Paul Barlow

Career so far IBM Compaq Atlanta Business Systems Managing Director of Equanet Group, Sales Director at PCWB / DSGi Business, Commercial Director in Computacenter's Mid Market Division, Managing Director of Servium

If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be and what would you do? I would love to join one of the emergency services for a week to get a taste of real life outside the IT bubble.

Cloud – friend or foe? Definitely a friend! Once you cut through the hype there are some real business benefits for customers and opportunities for the channel

Has 2011 been as bad as everyone said it would be? Not for Servium – we have gone from strength to strength. I think that there is good news out there you just have to look a little harder for it than before!

What would you have as your last meal? Steak and Chips followed by lots of alcohol - as I would not need to worry about the hangover!!!!

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with? The Saturdays, an ice-cream man and a lift engineer who worked very slowly...

Have any of your predictions come true this year? Yes – it would be a tough business environment / Servium would be successful / Man Utd would win the Premiership!!

What do you see as the channel’s biggest challenge in 2012? The continued negativity in the national press about the state of the UK and European economies that will continue to affect business confidence.

What is the best part of your day? Having my first coffee with the rest of the day to look forward to.....which will hopefully, at some point include seeing “The Management at Home” and the kids.