Born in Bury St Edmunds and educated at Brandeston Hall, Framlingham College and Oriel College Oxford, Ian became a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand in Cambridge.
He subsequently worked in corporate finance with Cambridge Capital before setting up Cambridge Computer Systems specialising in software development. Ian lives near Newmarket with his wife Sally and his two daughters have become the fourth generation of the family to pass through the College. His interests include golf and sailing.