Jon Thorpe

Managing director, acs

Career so far

I've had two proper jobs since university: Wildings for three years and acs for last 19 years.

What was your first job and were you any good at it?

Coaching 16-year-old American girls sport. It was a tough six months after university. It was enjoyable and I was OK at it.

Who was your top teenage pin-up?

Anna Friel.

My colleagues won't know this about me but...

I married my landlady, was coached by Gordon Banks and was Mr Wimpy at children's parties.

What is your favourite snack?

Oddities - try them, going back to the 1980s.

What has been your career high point to date?

Still being here, enjoying challenge and growing through tough times.

Has 2013 been good, bad or ugly?

Good and getting better as we grow and win more in the City and public sector.

What do you say when asked at a party what you do for a living?

A little bit of IT and still a passion for playing sport, albeit at a diminishing standard.

If I wasn't working in the channel I would probably be... doing a business related to sport, ideally in tennis, football or golf.

What will be the channel's biggest challenge in 2014?

I still see IT companies not adding value, not on the ‘cloud' journey and being left behind in 2014.