Hot seat: Ian Woosey

Ian Woosey is group IT director at Carpetright where he manages a team of more than 50 people based at the company's Essex headquarters

What was your first job and how did you get into IT?
Shelf stacking in a small local supermarket as a student. I first got into IT when I went through the Sainsbury’s trainee manager scheme and was invited to join a team installing EPOS, staff scheduling and time and attendance systems in supermarkets in the south east.
Which IT vendor do you think has been the most influential in the past 20 years?
It has to be Microsoft. Whether you like it or not, the company has brought computing to the masses like no other organisation.
And which IT professional?
Steve Jobs, Apple CEO and founder, revolutionised consumer electronics and made IT fashionable for once. The fact that the technology works brilliantly helps as well.
Is there any piece of tech legislation that will have an effect on your business?
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), a ridiculously complex, expensive and ever-changing rule book for anyone processing credit cards without any upside for a retailer. As you can tell, I am not a fan.

Which mobile device do you currently use?
A BlackBerry Storm.

How often do you check it?
Constantly, I am addicted.
What technology would you save in a fire?
My BlackBerry or Sky+ box. It’s a tough call.

If you were not in IT, what would you be doing?
Something else in retail.
Which technology would you most like to have invented?
The Nintendo Wii because anyone can use it.