Readers' lives: Life is a beach

Country living can surely only be enhanced by a white-sand Maldivean holiday

Holford: Once lived in Hong Kong

Number of staff you manage?
17

Golf handicap?
I don’t have a golf handicap.

How many beers before you fall over?
Not enough! I used to be a good beer drinker, but now I prefer a good bottle of wine.

Car or other vehicle you drive?
I live in the sticks so have an old, reliable Jeep. I also have an Audi TT.

What was your first job?
Excluding part-time student work, it was as an adminstrator in Tesco’s export department.

How much did it pay and was that fair?
It was about £14,000 or £15,000, and after university it was great to have regular money coming in so, yes, I guess it was.

How did you get into IT?
I worked at Tesco Direct just when it was moving from catalogue home shopping to online and being an ISP. It was a great time to join that team.

Which TV character would you most like to be?
Jack Bauer from 24. I like to be busy!

Are you looking forward to the London Summer Games in 2012?
It’s great: a fantastic opportunity to showcase London, and a real incentive to young athletes.

What sport should be in the Olympics but isn’t?
Squash. I used to play squash regularly and I think it’s a great sport – fast paced, good to watch and very competitive.

How do you relax, and do you find it easy to switch off from work?
Typically, I’ll head to the gym or watch a good movie. It’s nice to switch off, but that doesn’t normally happen for long.

Which is your favourite city?
Prague. Great architecture, good beer, and the people are really friendly.
Is there any future in simply selling packaged product?
Yes, in the right scenario. Packaged products are convenient, but as soon as the product requires some interaction, more customised solutions become more valuable.

What is your favourite joke or the one you heard most recently?
Four fonts walk into a bar. The barman says, “Oi! We don't want your type in here.”

Which is more satisfying: money or power?
Money – with enough of it you can buy yourself power.

What is your ideal holiday destination?
I love the Maldives; the opportunity to get away from everything, with white sand beaches, clear blue sea, and great diving is perfect for me!

What would you like to eat tonight?
Chinese. It has been my favourite since I lived in Hong Kong.

Is IT well taught in schools?
It is a while since I was in school, but seeing the knowledge some younger members of my team have is encouraging. I just don’t know how much was taught at school, and how much self-taught.

Steve Holford is chief marketing officer at Fasthosts Internet