Hatcher, Martin

A-LIST 2005

Company: MTV Telecom (Distribution).

Job title: Chairman.

Place of birth: London.

Year of birth: 1949.

Marital status: Divorced.

Career highlights: Building three successful telephony and convergent distribution organisations from inception of liberalisation to the present day.

What do you love most about the IT industry? Knowing you can never take your foot off the pedal.

Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Impossible to say without offending our long term-relationships.

Which individual do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Gordon McDowell, managing director of Micro P.

What is the biggest technology trend you anticipate in the next 12 months? Without question, Skype.

What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? The biggest asset are the people in your organisation.

Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? If I knew the answer, I wouldn't share it with you.

Which do you think is the most influential vendor in the UK? Cisco must be an obvious candidate, with Microsoft as a contender.

Which vendor's technology do you think has changed the face of IT? Again, it's an amalgam.

How do you unwind or spend your spare time? Playing tennis and visiting art galleries.

Where is your favourite place to eat? Zuma, London.

What is your favourite drink? Single Malt.

What is your favourite TV programme or film? Waking the Dead.

Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? Eric Clapton.

What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? I originally trained as a helicopter pilot.

What is your personal ambition? To be one of the first passengers on Virgin Galactic.