Name: Paul Kilduff.

Title: Vice-president, Merrill Lynch Capital Markets Bank, Dublin, and author of financial thrillers.

College: UCD.

Marital status: Single.

Home: Stillorgan, Co Dublin.

Most important life event: Moving back to Dublin after six years with HSBC in London.

Biggest business break: In my work, joining the only major US investment bank in Dublin. In my writing career, signing a two-book publishing deal with Hodder & Stoughton in London.

Biggest business mistake: Not buying more dot.com shares a few years ago in the boom times but very grateful now.

Time of getting up: 7.15 a.m. unless the girl in the penthouse above me wakes first.

Time finishing work: 6.00 p.m.

Favourite breakfast: Sunday brunch in the sunshine outside The Queens pub in Dalkey.

Form of exercise: Tennis at Sandycove LTC - captain of the mens aged 35+ team (just!)

Holidays: City breaks in Europe, book promo work in Britain, weeks in Tuscany or Nerja. Last year a week in Bermuda.

Favourite TV programme: Dom Joly's Trigger Happy TV, as in "Hello, I'm on the mobile".

Favourite radio programme: "Infacta", Bertie's Gift Grub on Today FM's breakfast show (8.20 a.m. - I can see other drivers laughing too).

Commuting time: 40 minutes in school term, otherwise 25 minutes.

Favourite airline: BA due to an upgrade to first class to Tokyo last year.

Worst things about travel: People who stand up in row two in an aeroplane for an eternity, look at their boarding card for the first time and suddenly realise they are in row 29. People in aeroplanes with visible mobile phone withdrawal symptoms. Missed connections at Heathrow for long-haul flights.

Favourite bank: I'd prefer to keep my day job so I have to say my current employer.

Favourite tipple: Heineken, Red Bull - never again.

Favourite pub: Slattery's or The Schoolhouse in Dublin 4.

Favourite restaurant: Fitzers in Dawson Street for the buzzing ambience and eclectic menu, and because I play tennis with the owner Paddy Fitzpatrick.

How do you spend your free time? Writing the next book The Headhunter, due for delivery to Hodder next June; travelling to Europe to research locations; doing publicity in London and Europe, responding to emails from readers; learning HTML for www.paulkilduff.com; and playing league tennis badly.

Person you admire most: John Grisham, but in truth it's more envy than admiration. Michael O'Leary and Eamonn Dunphy for not possessing a tie.

Dying words: Just do it.