Focus on: Adam Fletcher
Adam Fletcher is a self-made man. This isn't the usual "newspaper boy turns millionaire" story, but instead someone who, through hard work, enthusiasm, and perseverance, combined with business acumen, has become a well-known figure in the electronics industry — not just in the U.K. but further afield. I have had the pleasure of meeting Adam on several occasions. With his industry know-how and his willingness to always lend a hand, Adam makes himself stand out.           
                                                                                                                                           —Arthur Visser, Bishop & Associates Inc.

Adam Fletcher, chairman of the Electronic Components Supply Network – United Kingdom, a leading trade association
Previous industry positions: Corporate Officer – Memec Group
Industry affiliations or organizations: Vice president of the International Distribution of Electronics Association (IDEA), an association of leading electronic components trade associations
I’m also a director of several commercial companies, primarily in the electronics market, that effectively fund my contribution to the development of the electronic components industry via leadership of member-managed trade associations.
Accomplishments you’re proud of: Helping raise four sons is probably my enduring accomplishment to society; however, on a purely selfish note, gaining an MBA for a non-academic was great.

First job: Motorcycle mechanic. I quit school early, unqualified, and needed to earn some money quickly, so I took the best paying job I could, based on my existing skill set. Although I was earning three times as much as my peer group, I quickly realized I needed to get educated, and I landed a job with Cossor/Raytheon Electronics, where they kindly allowed me to study at a local technical college one day a week.
Favorite website: www.google.co.uk A wonderful window into the world of information, learning, and discovery.
The last book I read: The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell, I don’t recommend it, a fairly bleak account of life during the Depression of the 1930s. I do, however, highly recommend The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Steven Covey.
Why did you choose this industry for your profession? I didn’t so much choose it as fell into it… In the 1970s, finding a job was easy by today’s standards. Being enthusiastic and willing to try hard gave you a chance to prove your ability. I was fortunate to enter an industry where mainframe computing was becoming the norm, and quickly learned IT skills on the job that helped me progress my career enormously.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have: Studied at school, taken an IT- or finance-related degree, and made a fortune as a consultant!
The best advice anyone ever gave me was: We had an elderly American gentleman, Mr. Fiddeman, who was a bursar at school. As a bored student, I got to spend quite a lot of time with him and he told me this… “Life is like series of ladders, when you reach the top of one, it’s merely the beginning of the next,” and most importantly, “Be nice to everyone on the way up because you don’t know when you’ll be meeting them on the way down!”
What trend in the industry is affecting your job and what would you like to do about it? A failure by organizations to effectively communicate their material needs in the overall supply network. This leads to a feast or famine mentality and great inefficiency across our industry, as the real demand is so difficult to forecast accurately. I’m trying to encourage increased open and honest communication between trusted supply network partners who I’m convinced will benefit as a result. This has to encompass a genuine understanding of the motivations of all parties, the risks and rewards, and how, through open dialogue, a win-win outcome can be achieved.

Other comments: I can think of few other industries (with perhaps the exception of motor racing) I could wish to work in. The technical complexity and dynamic nature of the electronic components industry and having the privilege of working with great people ensure it continues to be rewarding, exciting, and most importantly, great fun.

Note: In the future, Mr. Fletcher will contribute more information about ecsn and the European marketplace to our readers.