30-SECOND CV

scene, seeing it backed by high-calibre academic institutions helping to close the digital skills gap.

“We see a vibrant community of small and medium businesses, growth businesses in Scotland,” he says, also complimenting the “immense” entrepreneurial spirit north of the Border.

“The invention and innovation in Scotland from the customers we serve is incredible… the partnership within the Scottish ecosystem between businesses, technology players like us, accountants, chambers of commerce, creates a really vibrant and successful network of entrepreneurs and they’re creating more than half the new jobs in Scotland.”

He entered the business world as a teenager, later completing a degree in busi- ● Born: Folkestone, 1961 ● Education: Folkestone Grammar School, University of Bath ● First job: Helping out in mum and dad’s tea & coffee shop, then a paper round ● Ambition while at school: Playing football for Chelsea, or cricket at Lord’s ● What car do you drive: My daughter’s Fiat 500 ● Favourite mode of transport: I’m too impatient to sit ness administration at the University of Bath, which granted him an honorary doctorate last year.

After a spell at Californiabased tech firm Oracle, he in traffic, so I prefer the Tube or walking ● Music: The Killers – all of my family love the band ● Reading material: Papers, I still love great print journalism ● Can’t live without: Great red wine – in moderation, of course ● What makes you angry: Discrimination and people not getting a fair shot ● What technology couldn’t you do without: My iphone ● Favourite place: By the sea. I love sitting in a harbour served as chief executive of Nasdaq-listed Chordiant Software from 2001 to 2005, and London-listed Micro Focus International from 2006 to 2010, during