Duke, Gary

A-LIST 2005

Company: Lan2Lan.

Job title: Sales director.

Place of birth: Southampton.

Year of birth: 1965.

Marital status: Married.

Career highlights: My first job was as an accounts assistant with the BBC, followed by another accounts role with Sunoco Oil. Joined Kalamazoo supporting accounting systems and progressed to a pre-sales position with Asystel Spartex (which was eventually bought by SCC). Consolidated my sales experience with SCC as corporate sales executive, eventually moving to Genisys in 1992. It was there that I met my fellow partners, and we decided to form our own IT consultancy business in July 2004.

What do you love most about the IT industry? Its rapid rate of technology innovation, the immense job satisfaction of seeing a project move from the planning stage to live deployment and, ultimately, a happy customer.

Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Probably Apple, as it continually re-invents itself and has a great understanding and vision of customers needs.

Which individual do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Peter Rigby of SCC. A great British entrepreneur.

What is the biggest technology trend you anticipate in the next 12 months? Mobility is still the hottest topic in IT.

What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? A tight scope of work and setting customer expectations correctly is key.

Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? The continued decline in product margins will mean the focus will have to be on professional services for resellers to survive.

Which do you think is the most influential vendor in the UK? IBM and Microsoft.

Which do you think is the most influential ISV in the UK? IBM and Microsoft.

Which vendor's technology do you think has changed the face of IT? IBM right from day one.

How do you unwind or spend your spare time? Cycling, kayaking, doing yoga and running. I also enjoy fine food, wine and good company. Travel is important to me and I take four or five holidays each year.

Where is your favourite place to eat? Thailand.

What is your favourite drink? A good red wine or a pint of Kronenbourg.

What is your favourite TV programme or film? Terminator II.

Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? Depends on my mood. Anything from Nirvana to Morcheeba.

What is your favourite book? The Beach (much better than the film).

What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? Sales in some form or other.

What has been your greatest business achievement? Starting Lan2Lan in 1994.

What is your personal ambition? To be happy, healthy and enjoy life to the full