Mark Evans

Commercial director, Imerja

Career so far I worked in the NHS for two years after university before moving to Hong Kong where I had a number of jobs, including managing an Italian restaurant. When I returned home I had brief spells with SAS and Cable and Wireless before joining Satelcom in 2001. I was a founder member of Imerja and have been with the company ever since we formed in 2004.

What will next year's most overhyped industry buzzword be? Apple iGlass (they're already out there).

Has 2012 been a good, bad or ugly year? Very good. Having invested in the development of our in-house services capability, we have secured some fantastic multi-year contracts in the last year or so, dramatically increasing our total contract value as a business and providing a sustainable platform from which we'll be able to build.

What would you have as your last meal? A picnic on a nice, sunny beach with my wife and children.

What keeps you awake at night? Currently my youngest crying for his mother (at least that's my interpretation of his screams at 2am!).

What piece of technology could you not be without? My iPhone. I think we've only hit the tip of the iceberg in regards to mobile technology and its potential to change our lives - it's hard to imagine what it will be like in 20 years from now.

Have any of your predictions come true this year? I predicted the coalition government would come unstuck this year - it hasn't so far, but there is still a bit of time to go.

What is the best partner/customer trip you have ever been on? I was once taken to Thailand as a guest of BT which was brilliant. I had spent a bit of time there when I was younger (pre-mortgage days) but it was certainly a different experience to my backpacking days.

What do you see as the channel's biggest challenge in 2013? The ongoing "optimism vs pessimism" debate on the economy. Financial challenges affect all businesses in some way, but I believe it also offers an opportunity for companies to be innovative and up their game, helping to raise standards across the board.