Neil Hammond

Name: Neil Hammond.

Employer and official job title: British Sugar, head of IT.

What do most people call you? Neil.

Who do you report to? Finance Director.

Nature of organisation and total headcount: Primary food manufacturing; 1,100 employees.

IT headcount: 48.

IT budget: £5.5m revex; £3m capex.

Biggest career success? Introducing large-scale offshore IT development into the business.

Greatest flop (that you can tell us about)? Delivering a requested B2B Extranet system that the business wasn't really geared up to use (so it never did get used). It taught me that if the business isn't really hungry for an IT solution, don't do it (even if you can deliver the system).

Greatest influence on career: Various - main influence is family plus what I've learnt from two previous directors I've worked for in the past.

Greatest strength: Focus and determination.

Area where you most want to improve yourself: Presentation and debating skills.

What single thing would make your job easier? Sufficient business resource for projects (I can usually provide/buy sufficient technical resource).

If you could only pass on one piece of advice to your successor, what would it be? Keep engaging with the business.

Which business issue/technology excites you the most? Delivering change/improvement into the business through technology.

What keeps you awake at night? Not delivering on what I've promised to the board/business.

Home life (house in the country/flat in the city/married/kids)? Married with eight children; live in a rural village.

Hobbies: History, cycling, jogging.

Last book read: Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson.

Last CD bought/downloaded: In the Heart of the Moon by Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate.

Favourite holiday destination: France.

What would your personal motto be? Live life to the full.

Greatest fear: Failing to maintain a work/family/lifestyle balance.

My idea of perfect happiness is… A weekend in London with my wife going to the theatre or a show.