Antony Young

Managing director, Demuto & Coservit UK

Career so far I started as a tea boy and am still here 24 years later.

If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be? My dog: She has more energy than me, has her meals prepared, is loved by everyone she meets and has someone else cleaning up her mess!

Has 2012 been a good, bad or ugly year? 2012 has been great! Business has been good and it's been a superb year if you like sport as I do.

What would you have as your last meal? Pan-fried fillet steak and caramelised onions cooked by yours truly.

What keeps you awake at night? I love to be busy; unfortunately it means that thinking time overlaps with sleeping time occasionally.

What is the best partner/customer trip you have ever been on? IBM took myself, Mrs Y and other top performing partners from throughout EMEA to South Africa, Botswana and Zambia for five superb days and even presented us with a newly cut diamond to say thanks! Those were the days!

What do you see as the channel's biggest challenge in 2013? Keeping distribution alive. They are getting squeezed on both sides to the point where they won't even be able to provide a warehouse never mind add value. Don't be surprised if some start to walk away from deals and/or low-margin vendors.