Sir Andrew William Graham Wylie CBE (born 12 August 1959) is a British businessman and co-founder of Sage Group, the United Kingdom's largest software business.
Graham Wylie | |
|---|---|
| Born | Andrew William Graham Wylie[1] 12 August 1959[2] |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Sage Group Technology Services Group |
Early life edit
Wylie was raised in the North East of England, the son of a Scottish miner from Stirling; Wylie's mother was originally from Hawick.[3] In 1980, Wylie attained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Statistics from Newcastle University.[3]
Career edit
In 1981 Wylie co-founded Sage Group with David Goldman and Paul Muller, having programmed the initial Sage accounts package himself.[4] The Sage Group quickly grew to be a successful worldwide financial software company and is the only software company listed on the FTSE 100. In 2003, Wylie sold his stake in Sage for an estimated £195 million.[5][6]
In October 2003, Wylie founded Technology Services Group and in the following years expanded that company primarily through acquisition.[7]
Speedflex (Europe) Ltd was formed in 2011 by chairman Wylie, Paul Ferris and Alan Shearer.[8]
Wylie was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2003 New Year Honours[1] and was knighted in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to business and charity.[9] He has been awarded honorary doctorates by Northumbria University in 2000 and Newcastle University in 2004.[10][11] He has been awarded the freedom of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Personal life edit
In 2003 Wylie married his second wife, Andrea Wylie. He and his wife also own a number of racehorses and Close House (a mansion with golf course).[12] Wylie's horses have raced at some of the sport's most prestigious events including the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival, where they have won on 13 different occasions.[13][14]
Wylie and his wife purchased Gosforth Shopping Centre for £9.25 million and sold the development more than a decade later for £12.25 million.[15][16]
Wylie has his own charitable foundation, the "Graham Wylie Foundation", which reportedly gives away 100% of donations to its chosen causes.[17]
References edit
- ^ a b "CBEs". BBC News. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ Director resigned, Sage (UK) Ltd, 30 May 2003
- ^ a b "Keep on top of everything Saturday interview Graham Wylie The founder of Sage shares words of wisdom about good health, good luck and a very tidy office with Mark Smith". Herald Scotland. 18 September 2004. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "History". Sage Group. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Graham Wylie - Latest news updates, pictures, video, reaction - Chronicle Live". www.chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ "sage-founder-cashes-in-for-pound". The Times UK. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Graham Wylie, Chairman and Founder of TSG". Technology Services Group. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ Ford, Coreena (26 September 2012). "Alan Shearer and Graham Wylie launch revolutionary fitness system - VIDEO". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N2.
- ^ "Public Orator's speech for Graham Wylie". Newcastle University. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Honorary Graduates". Northumbria University. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Sage founder's next success looks like a racing certainty". The Northern Echo. 7 June 2005. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Grand National 2019 falls: Tragedy for Graham Wylie-owned horse, and full list of fallen horses". The Evening Chronicle. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Graham Wylie | Cheltenham Buzz". cheltenhambuzz.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^ "Gosforth Shopping Centre set for upgrades after being bought for £12.25m". The Evening Chronicle. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Gosforth Shopping Centre set for upgrades after being bought for £12.25m". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "About the foundation – Graham Wylie Foundation". Retrieved 16 July 2019.