Alastair Bell

Chairman, Bell Microsystems

Career so far

I’ve been a commercial diver, to nightclub promoter, to the all-too-obvious move into IT.

What was your first job and were you any good at it?

I had a Saturday job with a builder’s merchants. It paid £5 a day which bought an LP every week… with some change. I’m not sure if I was made for the role but I think the business is still there.

Who was your top teenage pin-up?

It has to be Ursula Andress. White bikini, knife… what a girl. My colleagues won’t know this about me but… there is no reason for them to know now. What is your favourite snack? Claret and maybe Twiglets – though rarely together.

What has been your career high point to date?

Being a privately funded, profitable company in this market.

Has 2013 been good, bad or ugly?

It has been a great year, for all the right financial reasons – a superb team strengthened by the new management team and loyal customers.

What do you say when asked at a party what you do for a living?

Despite advice not to talk to strangers, I always say: “IT. What do you do?”

If I wasn’t working in the channel I would probably be…

Without a bunch of really good friends and enjoying what I do. What will be the channel’s biggest challenge in 2014? Clarity of value to the customer and vendors.