Paul Eccleston

Chief executive, SDG (Specialist Distribution Group)

Career so far Prior to my current role, I held senior positions with leading industry players including P&P, Acuma Solutions and Computacenter. I joined SCH in 2002 at which I led the establishment and growth of the Enterprise Solutions Division. In 2007 I was appointed to the SCH UK board and in 2008 tasked with the strategic transformation of the distribution business. Since then SDG has grown to $2.08bn across EMEA. I was appointed to the SCH Group board in 2010.

If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be? Casey Stoner. When he's not injured, he's the best motorbike racer ever.

What will next year's most overhyped industry buzzword be? Patent dispute, utility, cloud, Windows 8.

Has 2012 been a good, bad or ugly year? Great. 2012 was a record year for SDG in terms of revenue, profit and customer satisfaction. It culminated in joining forces with TD (subject to EU approval).

What would you have as your last meal? Tournedos Rossini with a great Bordeaux.

What keeps you awake at night? I have two teenage daughters - do I need to say any more?

What piece of technology could you not be without? My iPod. And the off switch on my phone.

Have any of your predictions come true this year? All of them of course, though I'm not sure it counts if you say so after the event.

What is the best partner/customer trip you have ever been on? SDG/ISI ski trip.

What do you see as the channel's biggest challenge in 2013? To help our end customers meet the challenges they face in the current economic climate by using IT to create benefit quickly.