What was your first job?
I worked for my dad’s company, Quickpackaging in Derby, stripping labels off tins of baked beans.
How did you get into the IT profession?
By accident. I went to university to do a general engineering degree and did a work placement at British Gas as a consultant. I came to the conclusion that engineering wasn’t going to be the job for me, and I ended up deploying NetWare ELS2 at my dad’s factory.
If you weren’t in IT, what would you be doing?
I’d like to have three jobs: rebuilding classic cars; something IT-related for two days a week just to keep my hand in; and cabinet making.
What is the first web site you check in the mornings?
Capreg.com, to check the share price.
Which person do you most admire in the IT industry?
Has to be Tim Berners-Lee. To have that vision, but not be bothered by money – that’s got to be admired.
Who has been the most influential IT vendor?
Part of me would say IBM, as there have been a number of developments that it has been at the forefront of. Novell also; it’s a good example of a great IT company that didn’t know how to market itself.
Which technology would you most like to have invented?
From a financial perspective, Ethernet. Imagine the patent royalties.
What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years?
Windows Vista – although we’ll be forced to go down that route eventually.
Which new technology will have the biggest impact on your organisation?
Virtualisation represents a hugely significant step change. It’s going to revolutionise the datacentre.
Is now a good time to enter the UK IT profession?
I believe it is. In my company, we’re trying to develop business professionals who can get on with people. As a profession, we are gaining more respect because we are being viewed more as business people rather than technologists.
