IT Leader Profile: Arshad Rasul

Arshad Rasul is director of broadcast and distribution at Welsh channel S4C, with a team of 90

What does your job entail?
Managing the broadcast, distribution and technology functions of the organisation. I am also responsible for managing technical policy and strategy, and contractual relationships with technical partners.

What was your first job?
Transmission engineer with the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

How did you get into the IT profession?
Gradually – by virtue of the broadcast areas using more and more specialist bespoke IT hardware and software.

What would you be doing if you weren’t working in IT?
Probably flying helicopters.

How often do you check your BlackBerry?
Every half hour or so when I am out of the office.

Which person do you most admire in the IT industry?
Bill Gates.

Who is or has been the most influential IT vendor?
That would have to be Microsoft.

Which technology has had the biggest impact on your working life?
The graphical user interface and email.

Which technology would you most like to have invented?
The mobile phone.

What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past year or so?
TV on mobile phones.

Which recent IT development will have the biggest impact on your organisation, or the industry in general?
Unified communications.