Jeremy Acklam

Name: Jeremy Acklam.

Employer and official job title: Virgin Trains, IT Director (now e-ticketing solutions manager, Atos Origin).

What do most people call you? Jeremy.

Who do you report to? FD, Linda Bell.

Nature of organisation and total headcount: UK Rail Transport Provider, 4,500 people.

IT headcount: 4 + 25 on-site (outsourced).

IT budget: £14m.

Biggest career success? Presenting the Downing Street Lecture in 2002 at No10 on the future of ticketing.

Greatest flop (that you can tell us about)? Deep end, Beverley Pool East Yorkshire, 1972 - I just survived.

Greatest influence on career: (1) A pharmacist who saved my life. (2) Joining a Theatre Company when I was 11.

Greatest strength: Pragmatic determination.

Area where you most want to improve yourself: Exercise.

What single thing would make your job easier? A few more people who smile.

If you could only pass on one piece of advice to your successor, what would it be? Welcome things that are inevitable.

Which business issue/technology excites you the most? Re-inventing ticketing.

What keeps you awake at night? Designing an authentic Finnish sauna.

Home life (house in the country/flat in the city/married/kids)? All of them but with a regional theatre instead of a city flat.

Hobbies: Running a theatre company and riding the world's oldest wooden rollercoasters.

Last book read: 'Tigana' by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Last CD bought/downloaded: Best of Northern Soul.

Favourite holiday destination: Somewhere high up in the Swiss mountains.

What would your personal motto be? Progress cannot be made by pampering to those who are against change.

Greatest fear: Raw eggs.

My idea of perfect happiness is…jumping into a cold lake after a hot sauna.