Get to know: Mario Veljovic

Mario Veljovic has played a major role in IT distributor Aptec's development since leaving the European channel to join the company five years ago. Channel Middle East thought it was time to gauge his views on the regional market place.

What's your career history in the industry to date?

I started my career at a firearms and hunting equipment wholesaler back in Germany. With a strong passion for IT, I decide to move over to the IT Industry in 1995 and joined Peacock Computers - a European PC assembler and distie - as international sales manager to handle a few European markets and the Middle East.

I later moved to Actebis, Europe's third largest broadliner, where I held various sales and marketing positions. I joined Aptec in 2003 to start Aptec Components, a regional business unit catering to the PC assembler market. Since 2006 I have been driving Aptec's eCompany and eCommerce vision.

What is the best deal you have ever closed?

I have certainly closed many good deals throughout my career, but the best for me personally was signing the marriage certificate with my wife Jennifer.

What is the most valuable business lesson you have learnt?

Make sure that you have explored all options at the point of making a decision, listen to your feelings and be 100% convinced that your decision is right.

What do you enjoy most about working in the Middle East IT market?

The Middle East IT market is extremely vibrant, dynamic and hungry for new ideas. As a result, it offers plenty of opportunities and opens new routes for managers. Once you have gained a strong insight into the local culture and added this to your experience from more established markets, it allows you to make an impact to the way an organisation operates and conducts business.

What do you dislike most about working in the Middle East IT market?

Most of the players in the market follow a short-term strategy. That makes it hard for those with long-term objectives to add necessary value for the overall positive development of the Middle East IT market.

Which IT industry figure do you admire and why?

There is no specific IT figure that I admire, but I do respect all those who have created their own business and made a long-lasting impact on the IT world. Ferdinand (Ferry) Porsche is a person I admire as he invented a sports car - the 911 - more than four decades ago, which to date is almost unchanged in shape and basic principles, but still one of the fastest in the world.

How would you describe your management style?

I believe in leading by example and listening to the concerns of my team. Leading large teams is always a challenge as the time you can spend with each member is limited. If employees have their individual tasks clearly defined they will perform the best that they can. I follow an ‘open door' policy to support them whenever required and step in if things are not going as planned.

How do you relax outside of the work environment?

I spend most of my free time with my family discovering the emirates and enjoy the beach side of Dubai, as well as the gym during weekends. I'm yet to find the right activity for me to relax though.