Welcome to the IT Pro Panel Profile, where we talk to the CIOs, experts and IT leaders that make up the IT Pro Panel, and discover their top tech, pet peeves and IT inspirations.
Many of us have experienced the cold dread that comes with realising you've almost forgotten a friend or family member's birthday. Luckily, gift and card personalisation service Moonpig has got your back, but the man that's responsible for keeping its intuitive DIY design interface running smoothly is Peter Donlon, Moonpig's CTO.
He's in charge of Moonpig's team of software developers, making sure that both internal and customer-facing applications are bug-free and performing well. An expert on all things agile, Donlon's role is a challenging one that requires tackling some of the thorniest issues in e-commerce and retail technology.
Peter Donlon
CTO - Moonpig
Describe your role in 20 words or fewer.
Successfully leveraging technology to delight Moonpig's internal and external customers.
What was your first computer?
An Amiga 1200. It was the gateway to my love of computers.
What do you like most about working in IT?
The pace of change. Standing still will never be good enough in IT and that works for me. I always want to learn more.
If you could magically get rid of one piece of technology forever, what would it be, and why?
Wires! Where wireless tech has been implemented well, it shows what good can look like. There's still a long way to go but I can't wait. I'm not sure I could ever wear wired headphones again.
What future tech innovations are you most excited about?
AI applied to the simpler problems in life. I can't wait to see how many mundane daily tasks can be replaced by AI. The less of these tasks we all have to do, the more time we have to focus on the bigger world problems.
Who’s your biggest inspiration in the world of tech?
Satya Nadella - The way he's transformed Microsoft is incredible. He's possibly a visionary but definitely an incredibly strong leader.
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