Newcastle-based software giant Sage Group said on Friday that Blair Crump, its president and executive director, will retire on March 31, 2020. 

Sage also said Soni Jiandani intends to stand down from her position as a non-executive director of Sage in order to fully focus her time on her other business commitments.

“Mr Crump joined the company in August 2016 to lead the sales and customer services teams across the group in his role as president,” said Sage.

“He was subsequently appointed to the board in January 2018, bringing strong leadership experience of the North American market as well as insights into customer success in the technology sector.”

Sage CEO Steve Hare said: ‘Blair has been instrumental to our vision of becoming a great SaaS company for customers and colleagues alike.

“Under his leadership of our dedicated sales and service teams around the world, we have renewed our focus on customer success and I am grateful for his experience, dedication and contribution.”

Sage chairman Donald Brydon said: “Blair has played an integral part in the leadership of the business and in supporting Sage’s SaaS vision and focus on customer success.

“His commercial insights have added further depth to our board discussions.

“I, and the whole board, thank him for his contribution.”

Brydon added: “I would like to thank Soni for her contribution to the board, in particular the insight and experience she brought to board discussions on technology transformation and market disruption.”