Smith, Ian

A-LIST 2005

Company: Matrix Communications.

Job title: Chief executive.

Place of birth: Yorkshire.

Year of birth: 1964.

Marital status: Married.

Career highlights: Starting Matrix with £300,000 and seeing it grow to £80m in sales within three years.

What do you love most about the IT industry? The speed of change and the fantastic opportunities that exist for those companies that want to lead.

Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Cisco.

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? Security inside the LAN.

What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? Price per port keeps going down, and that you need to innovate if you want to make money.

Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? There will be a handful of large players that cover the telco and integration space, and the days of the small, boutique resellers will be gone. This industry is no different from the car, medical, retail or any other service industry - consolidation is here to stay. Get big or get bought.

Which do you think is the most influential vendor in the UK? Cisco.

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

Which vendor's technology do you think has changed the face of IT? Cisco Routers. They started the era of the internet.

How do you unwind or spend your spare time? With my family. I wish I could say that I had hobbies and time to play sport, but after work the only time left is to watch my son play rugby and football and my daughter sing, play the piano or perform. Oh, I cook and that's relaxing, but then if you had seen my wife cook you would as well.

Where is your favourite place to eat? Pont de la Tour at Tower Bridge.

What is your favourite drink? Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

What is your favourite TV programme or film? Top Gun - complete nonsense and escapism.

Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? Paul Weller.

What is your favourite book? Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe.

What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? I would have stayed at Foundry Networks.

What has been your greatest business achievement? Matrix.

What is your personal ambition? To retire at 50 and spend my retirement sailing.