UK: Brain food - Unlikely managers - Seasonal gift coordinator - The Grotto, Lapland.

Name - Father Christmas

When did you become a manager? - Earlier this century, when everyone started demanding decent presents.

What does management mean to you? - In a seasonal business like this, it's all about yearly plans. First we sort the children's letters (and their faxes, e-mails, voicemails, etc). Then we apply a 'household income modifier' to requests, which explains why rich kids get ponies and poor kids don't, no matter how good they've been. It's tough, but budgets are tight and 'expectation management' is a big part of my job.