Hot Seat: Matthew Pack

What was your first job and how did you get into IT?
When I was eight my dad bought an Apple computer, which I spent hours taking apart and working on. After school I started a business course but quickly switched to an information systems degree at Bournemouth. My first proper job was with Lastminute.com, which I really enjoyed.

Which IT vendor do you think has been the most influential in the past 20 years?
Google – grabs the spotlight and is now recognised as one of the most powerful brands in the world. But there are plenty of other less-known brands that are doing very special and clever things for online businesses, such as StrongMail.

Is there any piece of tech legislation that will have an effect on your business?
Implementing Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance is a big challenge for online companies like us. PCI is supposed to be enhancing payment security online through tools such as Verified by Visa and 3D Secure Code. However, we are discovering that many users find it too complex and as many as 30 per cent don’t bother to complete their booking as a result. The problem is that many of our partners are requesting we use this service, so it’s a challenging situation.

Which mobile device do you currently use?
An iPhone – and not just for business. I’m a massive fan of all the applications you can get for it. For example, I’ve just downloaded an app that tells me when the wind is right for windsurfing, which is my other passion in life.

What technology would you save in a fire?
My MacBook Pro – it’s my bible. Everything, and I mean everything, is saved on it.

If you were not in IT, what would you be doing?
I would love to be a professional windsurfer. If I spent as much time surfing as I do working I could be quite good.