The UKtech50: The top 20

For a few weeks in 2012, Gerry Pennell will arguably be the most important IT executive in the UK. Imagine what would happen if, at the moment Sir Chris Hoy crosses the finish line in his Olympic cycling final next year, the IT systems had a glitch and the result wasn’t broadcast as millions of spectators follow the competition worldwide through TV, web and mobile phones. How’s that for pressure on the IT department? For the technology supporting the most watched sporting event in the world, failure of any kind is not an option.

Building, integrating and managing the technology supporting the London Olympic Games is one of the most complex and high-profile assignments in IT, and London 2012 CIO Gerry Pennell is the man responsible for its delivery.