30 under 30

When business is going well, it is usually the managing directors and other top brass who gain recognition, sometimes leaving the younger industry players overlooked. PCR gives them the attention they deserve with our 30-under-30 list of superstars...

1. Andrew Muscat, 27
UK Retail Business Development Manager, AMD
In Muscat’s current role, he drives retail sales for AMD-powered laptops. He entered the IT industry in 2003 as an account manager for Compusys. After two successful years he moved to Ingram Micro, where as product manager he looked after major brands from Acer to Apple. His next move was to Wacom, to grow sales for its Bamboo range, before joining AMD. People who work with him said: “At this age, there are few who can surpass his ability, experience and achievements.”

2. Ashley Murray, 27
Account manager – Business Division, CCI Distribution
Murray started his career in sales at CCI three years ago, and after successfully developing his skills in the consumer division made the switch to the business team, which reports that he has consistently over-achieved against target, alongside building strong relationships with its corporate resellers. They say his enthusiasm and professional approach will be key to the continued success of the team throughout 2012.

3. Janki Pandya, 25
PR/Events Executive, Interactive Ideas
Since joining Interactive Ideas in 2010, Pandya has played a vital role in co-ordinating PR and events for the company. She has been central to creating opportunities and gaining exposure for both the retail and software solution sides of the business. Her role also includes managing key relationships with the media, customers and vendors. Her high level of organisational skills have been proven by running successful events across the UK and Ireland.

4. Steve Kent, 25
Business Development Sales Manager, Westcoast
Kent joined Westcoast earlier this year as the sales manager of a newly established team that now contains 13 staff and turns over £2m per month, whilst still continuing to grow. The company says he’s been integral to the success of its business development team, and has made a huge impact on the overall management team within wholesale.

5. Richard Boote, 28
Product Manager, Hama (UK)
After joining Hama as product assistant in 2007, Boote has since become product manager and is an integral part of the product management team. Now looking after four key product categories plus a host of guest brands, he is responsible for product selection and regularly supports the sales teams with
engaging product presentations and on-site training.

6. Emilie George, 22
Marketing and Events Assistant, Gem Distribution/Gem Creative
George has been with Gem for five months and looks after the production of POS projects that Gem Creative produces for vendors such as Microsoft, Symantec and Nintendo, ensuring projects run smoothly. She also looks after the events schedule for the whole of Gem along with assisting the wider divisions and ensuring marketing collateral is readily available.

7. Kerri Chard, 29
Managing Director and PR Client Manager, Pick ‘n’ Mix PR
Having worked in the IT PR industry for the past ten years, Chard has set up and now manages new technology marketing and PR agency Pick ‘n’ Mix PR. Chard not only runs the company but also manages a handful of key clients, including Hannspree, which she has represented for five years in total.

8. Ben Wilson, 26
Business Development Executive, Nvidia Head, VIP
Wilson manages the Nvidia GeForce and Tegra business within VIP Computers and helps resellers be first to market with the leading graphics technologies. Prior to joining VIP, Ben was a male model, while before that he held senior technical sales positions at Sony (Hawkeye) and Edge10 Corporation.

9. Hannah Buckey, 27
Marketing Communications Executive, Hannspree UK
Since 2005 Buckey has progressed up the company ladder from a sales support role to managing the company’s PR and marketing strategy. She is the marketing contact for all of Hannspree’s channel partners and manages the UK external PR agency. She provides support for the Hannspree UK sales team and the
firm commends her for being “friendly and efficient”.

10. Natalie Pounce, 24
Assistant Buyer – General Merchandise, WHSmith Travel
Pounce joined WHSmith Travel in 2010 on a graduate programme and after only six months was promoted to assistant buyer for electronics accessories, a relatively new category for the business. Her focus is on sourcing new suppliers, maintaining supplier relationships and keeping the range up-to-date and appropriate for a travel environment. Her team say Pounce has played a major part in getting this category off the ground.

11. Lisa Wooton, 29
Retail Account Manager, Panda Security UK and Ireland
Wooton joined Panda Security early in 2011 with the broad remit of developing the retail sales channel, after attracting the firm’s attention by working at Koch Media. She has brought new distributors on board and has placed Panda solutions with
major retailers. A distributor who has worked with Wooton said: “Her professionalism, product knowledge and channel awareness are second to none.”

12. Toby Felder, 29
PR & Marketing Account Manager, Zaboura Consultancy
Felder works across a variety of accounts including many from the IT/technology industry. Prior to working for Zaboura Consultancy, he worked for Kingston Technology as Regional PR Manger for the Nordic, Eastern Europe and DACH regions. Felder finished the advanced certificate at the CIPR in 2007 and is currently undergoing the Diploma course at
the CIPR.

13. Ben Berraondo, 29
Senior EMEA PR Manager – GeForce, Nvidia
After completing his degree at UCL, Berraondo joined Asus and became UK marketing manager by the age of 23. Nvidia snapped him up in 2008 and to date Berraondo has taken many new products to market, and the firm says he’s changed the perception of graphics chips from geek to sleek. He’s responsible for the GeForce PR
strategy across EMEA and India including Nvidia’s GeForce GPUs and 3D Vision 2.

14. Omar Tayeb, 24
CTO and co-founder, Blippar
Whilst working as mobile commerce manager at Axa, Tayeb met Ambarish Mitra, the now-CEO and co-founder of Blippar. Together, from an idea that began as a challenge to make the Queen’s head on a five-pound note talk, they have created what they say is the world’s first mobile image-recognition platform targeted for marketing. Blippar now has over 150,000 users in just two months and works with a variety of global brands.

15. Kevin Verney, 28
Synology UK
Verney joined Synology UK in June 2010, and became sales manager in the summer of this year. He’s worked closely with distributors and resellers to ensure Synology continues to grow rapidly within the UK. He also oversees the marketing team function for the UK and the Nordic areas. Managers say: “With his dedication to work, and excellent communication skills, he has helped Synology to lay a good foundation in the UK market.”

16. Alex Reah, 25
Major Account Manager, Enta Technologies
In his five years at Enta, Reah has been responsible for introducing new and developing existing major UK resellers, as well as growing the IT hardware and software product portfolio and hitting monthly sales targets. His lobbyists also said he’s been critical to the success of the Network Group in 2011 and commended him for being “creative and organised in his approach to
any task.”

17. Leanne Smith, 21
Buyer, Target Components
Smith has been with Target Components since she was 17. Now 21, Smith is an integral part of its expanding purchasing department. She takes responsibility for the hard drive, laptop and software ranges. Her colleagues say that despite the hard drive issues since the floods, Smith has made some exceptional buying decisions which have helped Target’s customers source drives when many others have found it difficult.

18. Iain Bristow, 25
Regional Marketing Manager UK & Netherlands, AMD
Bristow single-handedly manages AMD’s marketing within the component channel, consumer channel and commercial segments. This encompasses over 50 accounts, including OEMs such as HP, Lenovo, Sony and Samsung as well as retail chains such as Dixons, Comet and Tesco. Colleagues praised him for a “great work ethic,” and said “his proactive approach has built our relationships to a new level with key partners.”

19. Marc Lupton, 26
Senior Account Manager – Trade Sales, CCI Distribution
Lupton joined CCI Distribution eight years ago as part of the trade sales team. He’s enjoyed a strong 2011, with bosses saying he has worked closely with clients to help develop and grow business, with effective brand penetration strategy and product launches. His sales for 2011 have shown a year-on-year growth of over 170 per cent.

20. Louise Deverell, 28
Channel Account Manager, Webroot
Deverell is responsible for managing reseller relationships and helping
them in end user sales engagements. She is well respected by partners, colleagues and management alike,
and has been described by customers as a “shrewd and motivated saleswoman,” with a high level of product knowledge and a positive attitude towards her work.

21. Gary Gibbons, 28
National Account Manager – Software, Koch Media
Gibbons is a key part of the Koch Media sales team, and has been the national account manager for DSGi, Amazon and Staples. He currently works within the newly named computing and technology team at Koch. He has planned and implemented key marketing campaigns and successfully grown brands, showing impressive sell through.
He’s been described as, “an asset to the team.”

22. Kirsty Endfield, 25
PR Account Manager, Indigo Pearl
Endfield is best known for her role in running most of Indigo Pearl’s event and press trips, including the UK launch of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. She also played an integral part in the UK launch of game-streaming service OnLive and works with PC peripherals firms such as Thrustmaster and Hercules for the Guillemot group.

23. Adam Young, 24
National Account Executive, EA
Young’s colleagues have welcomed his enthusiasm and gaming knowledge since he joined EA’s UK & Ireland’s sales team. He has taken a lead in internal forecasting and managing various stock control projects. His superiors deem him to be a key member of the team and described him as “definitely one to watch in the future.”

24. Paul Stevenson, 22
Junior Buyer,
Target Components
Stevenson joined Target Components in March this year. At only 22 years old, he has taken on the networking and gaming ranges at Target, which has led to overseeing the expansion of the Tenda range (for whom Target is the exclusive UK distributor), and growing the range of both gaming and mobile accessories.

25. Victoria Chernih, 24
PR Assistant, Kingston Technology
Chernih supports Kingston’s EMEA PR team and PR manager, with responsibilities including management of the EMEA product evaluation programme, producing qualitative and quantitative analysis of the press coverage for all the respective countries, the accurate maintenance of the EMEA PR budget and working with external agencies. Prior to working for Kingston Technology, Chernih had a seven-month placement at Ikea’s press office.

26. Lianne Johnson, 27
Retail Sales Manager, Kaspersky Lab
In the past year, Johnson has been responsible for retail accounts generating more than 30 per cent of Kaspersky Lab UK’s business. She has also played a pivotal role in the successful customer launch of Kaspersky ONE, Kaspersky Lab’s universal security solution, to major UK retailers. The firm says Johnson has fostered excellent relationships, and consistently demonstrates business acumen beyond her years.

27. Georgina Wilmer, 29
Sales Manager, Realtime
Wilmer joined Realtime in 2007 and quickly established herself as a key member of the Tier 1 sales team. Her passion and drive have enabled her to be promoted three times in this time period. Wilmer is responsible for the day-to-day management of the sales team, and those who lobbied for her say she is well respected by colleagues, suppliers and customers alike.

28. Gary Read, 29
Territory Business Manager DMR – Commercial, Cisco
Read joined Cisco 18 months ago, holding responsibility for direct mail reseller opportunities within the firm’s commercial space. In his first year he was able to grow his area of the business by 27 per cent year-on-year.
His colleagues commented that he is a hard working professional who is “always on top of things”.

29. Clare Homer, 27
PR Manager, Serif
Homer is responsible for developing, delivering and measuring PR strategies across the US and UK, for Serif’s creative software (from PagePlus to Craft Artist), digital crafting community DaisyTrail.com and the corporate brand. She also provides support to European distribution partners, looks after social media and manages the press office for sister company Gizoo. She’s achieved media coverage in places from Official Windows Magazine to the Gadget Show and her colleagues call her a “PR whirlwind”.

30. James Farmer, 25
Marketing Executive, Veho
Farmer joined Veho in 2011 and has had a busy year implementing an integrated marketing plan across all media outlets and platforms. Colleagues at Veho say Farmer plays a crucial role in co-ordinating the Veho product release strategy and co-ordinating global trade events, as well as growing the Veho brand generally.

Tags: Channel, 30 under 30, rising stars