White, Philip
A-List 2006
Job title: Chief executive.
Company: Syscap.
Year of birth: 1966.
Place of birth: Rochford.
Career outline: I joined Syscap about 15 years ago when it was a business of about 10 people with revenues of less than $10m. Since then the business has grown to be the leading independent IT financing specialist in UK.
What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? The diversity of products and people and the challenges that it brings, no two days are the same.
What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? The iPod. Not because it’s a bad product, but the hype has been relentless.
What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? Analogue technology.
Which technology would you most like to have invented? I’m not sure if this counts, but the wheel.
Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? No.
If you could swap places with anyone in the industry, who would it be? Sara Driscoll – think of all those free lunches.
What is the biggest hurdle you have faced in your career? Fighting off aggressive trade bids from global financiers as a consequence of the recent strategic review process which ultimately led to the recent management buy-out.
What is the biggest success of your career? Concluding the Syscap management buy-out in the face of fierce competition from global finance companies.
What piece of technology could you not live without? My PDA.
What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? Think software and services.
What is your favorite computer game? Probably something sad like Space Invaders.
What would you like for Christmas if you could have anything? For Father Christmas to be real. Having four kids, it would save me a fortune.
What would be the title of your autobiography? Live The Dream.
Do you have any phobias? No.
How many beers before you fall over? 7 to 8.
Number of staff you manage? 129.
What is your golf handicap? 18.
What car do you drive? BMW.
Number of air miles you have? 121,000.