CEO Today United Kingdom Awards

19 www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today United Kingdom Awards 2019 ACCOUNTANCY STEVE HARE CEO of Sage Group FIRM PROFILE Like the business builders we serve, Sage began as a startup. Our founder David Goldman wanted to automate accounting processes in his own business. He worked with a team of Newcastle University students in the UK to develop software to make it happen—and realised other businesses could benefit from this too. Today, Sage has 13,000 employees and serves over three million customers in 23 countries across mainland Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, and Latin America. At Sage, we transform the way people think and work, enabling their organisations to thrive. Every day, all around the world, our 13,000 colleagues and local networks of accountants and partners support and enable business builder success. What we do: Sage is the market leader for integrated accounting, payroll, and payment systems, supporting the ambition of the world’s entrepreneurs. Like many of the businesses we serve, Sage began as a small business and has grown beyond what seemed imaginable. Today over 13,000 colleagues now support millions of entrepreneurs across 23 countries as they power the global economy. Our social and mobile technology provides live information so you can make fast, informed decisions anytime, anywhere in the world. We support our business builders for life by offering choice, support, expertise, and innovation. We champion your causes and provide world-leading advice and support when you need it most. Our story: Like the business builders we serve, Sage began as a modest British startup with a big ambition. Our founder David Goldman wanted to automate accounting processes in his own business. Working with a team of Newcastle University students, he developed software to make it happen – and discovered other businesses could benefit from this too. In 1981, our founder David Goldman faced a problem. He wanted to create quotes quickly for his print business and keep track of his accounts. So David worked with a team from Newcastle including Dr. Paul Muller, a computer expert who worked with NASA, and student Graham Wylie. Some eight years later, Sage was listed on the London Stock Exchange with a £20m valuation. www.sage.com ABOUT STEVE HARE Steve joined Sage in January 2014, having previously been Operating Partner and Co-Head of the Portfolio Support Group at the private equity firm Apax Partners, which he joined in 2009. Prior to this he built over 10 years’ experience leading the finance function for three listed UK companies culminating as CFO for FTSE 100 company Invensys plc, the global technology-related business, from 2006 to 2009. Between 2004 and 2006 Steve was Group Finance Director for Spectris plc, the FTSE 250 precision instrumentation and controls company and from 1997 to 2003 he was with Marconi PLC, acting as CFO from 2001. Steve qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1985 with Ernst & Whinney, now part of Ernst & Young, and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Liverpool University.