Nick Thurlow

Vice president, UK&I, Arrow ECS

What was the worst job you have ever had?

A temporary job as a student, opening up 10,000 car radio boxes and snipping off the wrong plugs.

Which actor would you pick to play you in a movie of your life?

Bill Murray - only because he is the funniest guy on the planet. No other reason.
What do you do as your party trick? I can name all US state capitals, a skill I have yet to monetise.

What is your favourite chocolate bar?

Crunchie. The king of all confectionary. Only bettered by its sinful coupling with Cadbury's Dairy Milk.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Winning my first major competitive deal as a young sales person. The best feeling in business and will never be bettered.

Has 2014 been a good, bad or ugly year?

It's been an excellent year. I joined Arrow in April 2013, inherited a fantastic team and a vibrant business. This year we have gone from strength to strength and I am excited about our future and being part of it.

How would you explain the IT channel to a stranger without boring them to death?

We make sense out of a complex world. We make life easier for our customers. We listen, provide support and develop solutions giving customers secure access to their information any time, from any location, on any device.

Aside from the channel, my dream career would be... wearing the Arsenal number 9 shirt.

What major issues will the channel face in 2015?

In my 30 years in the industry, I have genuinely never seen so much change happening simultaneously. Rapidly emerging new technologies, an ever-widening choice in how customers choose to consume IT services, the increasing impact of social media and security everywhere. The value that the wider channel brings to its customers will have to evolve to meet this ever-changing landscape. However, capitalism doesn't change. Margin is predicated upon value. You bring value, you win. You fail to bring value, you lose.