As an Intern I’ve been given the opportunity to sneak behind the scenes and meet the greatest minds within Moonfruit. Some of these interviews may be “less serious” than you might expect. We start the series with Eirik Pettersen CTO.
The first thing Eirik Pettersen asked me was, ‘Does anyone know where I can find a sewing machine?’ I replied ‘I don’t kn…’ ‘CAUSE I’M RIPPED!’ he roared. Bewildered, I watched him saunter down the hallway, gym bag on his back. From then on I knew who Eirik Pettersen was.
Pettersen is the self styled Chief Technology Officer here at Moonfruit. Asked to explain his role to me he describes it as three targets he likes to ‘hit.’ He oversees new product development, keeps the servers running and generally chips in with the strategic direction the company is heading in. In an attempt to find a common ground between us I suggest it’s similar to the three parts of a workout; Warm-up, muscle work and cool-down? But Pettersen quickly corrects me that there’s no time for a cool-down – He’s always pumping iron.
As one of the earliest members of the Moonfruit operation I asked him about the company’s early days. He says that it was an exciting time for Wendy Tan White (CEO) and himself, the two ambitious friends who had entertained the idea of a company back in their University days. We moved on to when the company really started to grow, noticeably as new colleagues such as CFO Joe White joined the team. I joked that Pettersen was ‘green’ over the Joe’s success – but this somehow got mistaken as a compliment concerning the Hulk. The conversation soon after turned to superheroes, Thor being a particular favourite of Pettersen.
I wasn’t surprised considering his name that Norse mythology was an interest of Eirik’s, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Thor was who he liked to model himself on. Aside from this we delved into Pettersen’s private life. ‘You cannot mix fruit and chocolate,’ he declares while mixing a protein shake. I first thought he was poorly trying to make one of those parodies which joke about food – ‘cheesecake? Cheese mixed with cake!?’ – But Pettersen was more adamant that this fruit and chocolate problem was a real concern. Seeing my puzzled face he blurted, ‘It’s as bad as mixing mustard and coffee.’ I could see this was a sensitive subject for the gastronome. Note taken not to get those chocolate coated strawberries I had my eye on.
We had moved into the kitchen so I could make myself a coffee while Pettersen started cracking a number of eggs into a bowl. I said to him ‘that’s going to be a mean omelette,’ but to my horror the colossus simply downed what was in the bowl – yummy. This was the first clear insight I’d been given into one of the key members of the team here at Moonfruit, a series of interviews I’ll be carrying out to inform you all of the going’s on behind the closed doors. I asked Pettersen where he was heading as I saw him leaving for the door, to which he asked ‘do you know any good veterinarians?’ I considered the question and asked why? To see Pettersen raising his arms and bellowing ‘Cause these pythons are SICK!’
Tony the Intern!
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