Alex Phillips

Director of strategy, Northamber

What was the worst job you have ever had?

I've been pretty lucky and have always worked with good teams on interesting challenges, so I can't say I've had a bad job so far. I enjoyed spending five years as a strategy consultant helping multi-nationals grow before I joined Northamber in December 2013 but I far prefer my current job helping lead one of the longest established UK disties back to long-term growth with a renewed strategy.

What do you do as your party trick?

I haven't really got a party trick. I'm more partial to a good whisky at a party than tricks.

What is your favourite chocolate bar?

Cadbury's Dairy Milk.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Definitely working with Northamber this last year. There's been a lot of highlights this year including our Tech Expo at Epsom Racecourse. I was really proud to see 50 of our vendors and more than 100 customers coming out to support us in our first channel event for almost a decade.

Has 2014 been a good, bad or ugly year?

2014 has been a great year so far for Northamber. We've signed more than a dozen new vendors, more than a dozen new staff, started working with some exciting new customers and further solidified our relationships with many of our loyal existing customers. We're very excited about the long-term implications of some of the foundations we're currently rebuilding this year and are looking forward to seeing the results for years to come.

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

A partnership that facilitates supply from vendors to end users, adding value along each link of the chain whether technically, logistically or financially.

Aside from the channel, my dream career would be... I know it sounds corny but this is my dream career so I really couldn't answer.

What major issues will the channel face in 2015?

2015 will bring a lot of challenges and opportunities; we cannot predict what all of these will be but we're looking forward to it. 2015 will be Northamber's 35th year in business and we're confident that we'll be well placed to help our suppliers and resellers with whatever the year may bring.