Pacey, Edward
A-LIST 2005
Company: Bell Microproducts Europe.
Job title: Director credit services.
Place of birth: Cyprus.
Year of birth: 1949.
Marital status: Married.
Career highlights: Almost 30 years' experience in credit management in three distinct and quite different industry sectors: film and leisure with a division of the Rank Organisation, engineering, with divisions of B Elliott, and since 1992, technology, with Bell Microproducts Europe. I joined Ideal Hardware in 1992, which was sold in 1999 to Bell Microproducts, a Nasdaq-listed company based in San Jose California. Bell Microproducts is the world's largest specialist storage trade distributor with global sales in excess of $3bn. I am a regular contributor of articles to trade journals in the IT sector on a broad range of issues, specialising in credit, business, and finance. Presentations in the sector and credit industry nationally and internationally have covered numerous topics, including fraud avoidance, risk management, collection, automation, scoring, market trends and the growing importance of credit management as a front-end business function on an equal footing with sales. I've been a member of the Institute of Credit Management for many years.
What do you love most about the IT industry? The pace and frequency of change. It's a bit like a snake shedding its skin several times a year. This creates opportunity and difficulty in equal measure.
Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Dell and Microsoft.
Which individual do you most admire or respect in the IT business? All the reseller directors I've got to know over the years.
What is the biggest technology trend you anticipate in the next 12 months? Convergence, security, services and consolidation.
What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? Never take things at face value.
Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? There will be fewer bigger players at the top end of the table, but reseller numbers will not necessarily diminish, despite consolidation and mergers. Distribution will be unrecognisable in its current form, but will still play a major role in supporting the channel. A straddling of the IT, telecoms and electronic sectors may yield the required margin return for most.
Which do you think is the most influential vendor in the UK? Hewlett-Packard.
Which vendor's technology do you think has changed the face of IT? Microsoft.
How do you unwind or spend your spare time? Working out at the gym and playing a little golf. Painting in oil or watercolour allows the mind to wander and is a great way to unwind.
Where is your favourite place to eat? Pappadums in Brentford. Great food and atmosphere
What is your favourite drink? Red wine.
What is your favourite TV programme or film? Kelly's Heroes.
Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? Bruce Springstein.
What is your favourite book? Catch 22.
What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? Credit management, but in another sphere.
What has been your greatest business achievement? Being named CRN Channel Personality of the Year 2004.
What is your personal ambition? To have made a difference and a contribution.