Date & place of birth:
March 21 1950; Islington, north London, UK.

Profession:
Managing Director, Adam Hall Limited.

What was your first professional job?
Singing with the Freddy Mack Extravaganza - a London-based soul and Motown revue band - in 1967-68. It was a wonderful time to be in a band, or doing anything connected with music, and especially in London. Freddy had been a sparring partner for the champion boxer, Billy Walker, and at one time his band also featured Paul MacCallum, who later founded Wembley Loudspeaker.

How did your involvement with Adam Hall begin?
In 1976 I joined Roost Ampification. At first I was doing wiring and assembly but before long I was running the factory. Adam Hall was a partner in Roost and in 1973 he had set up a sideline business called Adam Hall Supplies. Roost was sold to FAL in Leeds [when it was called Audio Factors] and Canary took over the Roost workforce. That was when Adam offered me a position as the buyer for the then-growing Adam Hall Supplies, and 25 years later I'm still here!

Who or what provided your biggest inspiration?
Adam was like my mentor. Until around 1990 he taught me everything I know about business... including how not to do things!

What's been your biggest achievement?
Probably setting up our Taiwanese sourcing office in 1985 because it changed the shape of our company. Before then we were purchasing everything from within the UK but manufacturing at that time was going down the tubes - products were either unavailable or simply priced unattractively. So I had the job of searching the Far East for a better solution.

Is there anything about the industry you'd change?
I'd certainly like it to be less cut throat because that only results in prices being continually forced down and that means we are always looking to find cheaper sources. In that environment, quality is hard to maintain but we seem to do it. The LD range that we represent are budget-priced at the low end professional level, and they're remarkably good and becoming very popular.

What's your attitude towards the proliferation of trade shows?
There are definitely too many, or at least not enough focused ones. We do plan to exhibit at more but there's always a big pressure on having a large presence, and doing it bigger every year. Maybe we'll be at more of them, but take a smaller space. PLASA and Frankfurt are the ones to appear at, but when you look at the incredible cost it makes you wonder if the cons outweigh the pros. I definitely think that PLASA, as a show, needs to be more welcoming and encouraging to overseas visitors.

What were the last additions to your record/CD collection?
Georgie Fame's Birthday Big Band; Brian Wilson's finally completed Smile.

The last live show you attended as a paying punter?
Brian Wilson performing Smile at the Royal Festival Hall. To hear it live was unbelievable!

What would be your advice to a teenage Bob Mundy?
Never settle for second best. Know what you want and don't stop until you get it - either in music or in business.