England, Simon

A-List 2006

Job title: Managing director.

Company: Azlan.

Year of birth: 1964.

Place of birth: Oberammergau, Germany.

Career outline: I’ve had several roles, including being a networking post-sales supporter and trainer at a network distribution company; co-founder of network training business; network product manager, project engineer at a system integrator; director of product management, then co-managing director at a national network distributor; senior director of enterprise networking at pan-European broadliner; regional vice-president and managing director of Europe at European networking specialist distributor. I’ve been managing director EMEA at Tech Data/Azlan EMEA.

What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? My motivation comes from the competitiveness of the business, the winning spirit in the team, the daily challenge to be driven, faster, creative and increase efficiency in the process.

What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? ATM.

What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? IP connectivity because it becomes a utility and the attention shifts to applications leveraging IP.

Which technology would you most like to have invented? Motorbikes, the first router and the mobile phone.

Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? No, it was all part of getting me to the here and now.

If you could swap places with anyone in the industry, who would it be? John Chambers, great challenges, great delivery, still riding a tornado, and developing a great example of corporate citizenship.

What is the biggest hurdle you have faced in your career? Stepping out of a previous role over disconnects in regard to direction, then having to take an 11-month break while running down an old contract.

What is the biggest success of your career? Being able to inspire, encourage and help develop a lot of individuals.

What piece of technology could you not live without? Books, mobile phones and email.

What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? Believe in the opportunities, keep your eyes on the business needs and opportunities, and never the current flavour of the day.

What is your favourite computer game? World of Warcraft (sounds awful, but is something I can play with my teenage boys).

What is your favourite karaoke song? Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf.

What would be the title of your autobiography? Me.

Do you have any phobias? No.

Number of staff you manage? 5.

What is your golf handicap? 0.

What car do you drive? Just sold my Porsche 911.

Number of air miles you have? Too many.