Ann Budge

Ann Budge is the former Chief Executive of Sopra Group UK.                                                                                                                                                                               

Sopra Group is a 1 billion Euro turnover systems integration company headquartered in Paris.

After graduating from Strathclyde University with an honours degree in psychology, Ann started her IT career in Scottish & Newcastle Breweries as a graduate trainee. She moved 12 years later after being head-hunted to establish F International’s (now Xansa) operation in Scotland.
 
In 1985, she set up Newell & Budge with Alison Newell.  When Alison wanted to retire in 2001, Ann spearheaded a management buyout in order that the company could continue. Over the next few years, Ann firmly established the company as one of the fastest growing IT services companies in the UK.

Under Ann’s leadership, Newell & Budge made two acquisitions; the first, a specialist Security Company, based in Northern Ireland and the second, an Indian IT company, based in Delhi.  In July 2005, then with a turnover of £38 million, Newell & Budge was sold to Sopra Group and Sopra Newell & Budge (later trading as Sopra Group UK Ltd.) was formed.  As Chief Executive of the enlarged business, Ann was the first woman to sit on the Executive Committee of Sopra Group in Paris.

For the next 3 and 1/2 years Ann continued to grow Sopra Group in the UK,building its customer base and leveraging both its offshore capability and Sopra Group’s extensive European-wide service offerings. Ann stepped down as CEO in December 2008.