Donovan, John

A-LIST 2005

Company: Cisco Systems.

Job title: Managing director UK and Ireland, channel and SME.

Place of birth: London.

Year of birth: 1964.

Marital status: Married.

Career highlights: After gaining an electronics degree from Brighton, I worked as a silicon chip designer at Marconi, then entered a sales career comprising four years at Hewlett-Packard, six years at 3Com and 10 years at Cisco.

What do you love most about the IT industry? Its pace of change, innovation in technology and thinking, the people, the technology and the competition

Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Outside of Cisco, it would be Apple for its incredible innovative spirit and insanely great products.

Which individual do you most admire or respect in the IT business? John Chambers [of Cisco].

What is the biggest technology trend you anticipate in the next 12 months? Full convergence of voice, video and data over highly secure networks with both wired and wireless access.

What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? You don't get anything or anywhere without working bloody hard for it.

Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? I think the channel will look like the construction industry with knowledge-based channels (architects, surveyors, structural engineers) and delivery channels (main contractors). Both businesses will have very different operating models and the vendor community will have to adapt to the different requirements this will produce.

Which do you think is the most influential vendor in the UK? Cisco, no doubt. The network touches every other part of IT and is increasingly the central nervous system of a business.

Which do you think is the most influential ISV in the UK? Skype.

Which vendor's technology do you think has changed the face of IT? Apple.

How do you unwind or spend your spare time? I have a young family so I spend a lot of spare time with them. My other passions are mainly sporting: I am a keen follower of football, rugby, racing and golf.

Where is your favourite place to eat? In my garden.

What is your favourite drink? Jack Daniels, Margaux and Kronenbourg.

What is your favourite TV programme or film? Right now, Lost on TV. Movie: The French Connection.

Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? Elvis Costello, The Smiths, The Killers, The Ramones.

What is your favourite book? Wuthering Heights.

What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? Being a sports presenter on TV.

What has been your greatest business achievement? Helping to give a major retailer the confidence to move its 1,500 site SNA network to TCP/IP in 1993.

What is your personal ambition? To make a success of being a father and a husband.