Rigby, Steve

A-LIST 2005

Company: SCH.

Job title: General manager.

Place of birth: Birmingham.

Year of birth: 1972.

Marital status: Married.

Career highlights: I've worked at SCH from1989 to 2005. From 1989 to I worked in sales at SCC, and became director in 1992, then director of Byte Computer Superstore in 1996, becoming managing director in 1998, and managing director of ETC in 2001.

What do you love most about the IT industry? The opportunity to excel still exists, despite tough conditions. The global nature of clients, partners and competitors.

Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Accenture.
Which individual do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Bill Gates, the only guy in IT who has made a real difference.

What is the biggest technology trend you anticipate in the next 12 months? A return to centralised computing; subscription computing.

What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? Tight operational control is essential for profitability.

Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? It will be a matured market, like the car industry. There will be fewer larger multi-country players. The larger players will evolve to become European service houses. E-tailers will play an increasing part in the market - more than 30 per cent.

Which do you think is the most influential vendor in the UK? Hewlett-Packard.

Which do you think is the most influential ISV in the UK? First Microsoft, second Oracle, third SAP.

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

How do you unwind or spend your spare time? With the family and kids. Shooting in the winter, racing cars in the summer. Interior design.

Where is your favourite place to eat? Cipriani's.

What is your favourite drink? Italian red wine.

What is your favourite TV programme or film? Dangerous Liaisons.

Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? Jazz

What is your favourite book? Schott's Miscellany. Really useless but entertaining facts.

What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? Fashion or interior design.

What has been your greatest business achievement? The ongoing transformation of SCH to become a European leader in IT.

What is your personal ambition? To develop a luxury brand.