Paul ffelan

Career so far: I started out as a UNIX engineer in the mid-90s, then moved gradually towards the sales side of the industry. I then moved into distribution in 1999 through to 2005. I then had a spell in the motor industry with Mercedes before returning to IT with Care Micro in 2007.

If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be and what would you do? I think it would be great to be Kim Jong Il to see what really goes on behind the scenes in North Korea. The whole country fascinates me.

What would you have as your last meal? I think crispy duck with pancakes and all the trimmings – if I’m going out it may as well be in style.

What is the best corporate jolly you have ever been on/taken partners on? I would say Microsoft WPC, but that is actually hard work. I did an event at Silverstone a couple of years back with Hammer where we got to drive Ferraris around the Grand Prix circuit. That was excellent.

Do you see the cloud as a threat or an opportunity? An opportunity; plain and simple. Every step-change in the industry is a great chance to grab market share and make a name for yourself. The cloud is no different.

Have any of your predictions come true this year? Yes! My beloved Newcastle United got promoted straight back to the Premier League, and Microsoft’s BPOS has been a really great product for us – our customers are loving the hassle-free route to all of Exchange’s power. Can I get a column in the Sunday papers to replace Mystic Meg?

What do you see as the channel’s biggest challenge in 2011? I think the greatest challenge to the channel will be adapting its business from a CapEx model to an OpEx model, with all the resultant cash flow changes that this brings.

What is the best part of your day? Getting home to relax with family and friends – hopefully watching a good movie, as I’m a bit of a home cinema geek!