Pascal Houillon has left as CEO of Sage North America after four years leading the accounting software company’s efforts in the U.S., Canada and Brazil and 18 years total with the company.
The announcement was made in Sage’s financial results released Wednesday and confirmed by the company, which said global CEO Stephen Kelly will be acting as president for North America in the interim. Sage has not yet named a permanent successor, who will assume that role of president of Sage North America.
“We have already started making changes to facilitate and underpin our longer-term growth plans,” Kelly stated in the company’s financial results, which reported organic recurring revenue growth of 8 percent for the six months ending March 31. “These changes are being carefully introduced to ensure minimum risk to the business. These include organizational and product 2 improvements which will help drive sustainable, profitable growth and build on Sage’s existing strengths. We are at the start of this journey which will take a couple of years to fully implement.”
Houillon’s departure follows the exit of mid-market general manager Joe Langner in January. In April, the company expanded Jennifer Warawa’s role to global vice president of product marketing for accountants.
Sage’s recent executive changes, including Alvaro Ramirez stepping down from his role as CEO Europe to be replaced by Brendan Flattery as president of Sage Europe, will facilitate the company’s longer-term growth plans, Sage noted: “It will take time to see the full benefits, but we are changing the operating model and are executing at increased pace.”
The movements mark a change in Sage’s organizational model, as the company establishes the roles of marketing, HR, facilities, procurement and legal as global functions to replace their historically local structures.
“We appreciate Pascal's many contributions and wish him well in his next venture,” Sage stated. “We are firm in our commitment to our customers, our partners, and our fellow colleagues, so there is no change in that regard. This is a new, exciting era for Sage, and we will have a great deal more news in the weeks to come.”
