Intuit vs Sage Group: Founders, CEOs and History
Intuit was founded in 1983 by Scott Cook, Tom Proulx and is led by Sasan Goodarzi. Sage Group was founded in 1981 by David Goldman, Graham Wylie, Paul Muller and is led by Steve Hare.
Company facts
Intuit
- Founded
- 1983
- Headquarters
- Mountain View, California, United States
- Current CEO
- Sasan Goodarzi
- Employees
- 18,200
Sage Group
- Founded
- 1981
- Headquarters
- Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
- Current CEO
- Steve Hare
- Employees
- 12,000
Founders
Intuit
Scott Cook
Scott Cook co-founded Intuit in 1983 after working in brand management at Procter & Gamble and as a consultant at Bain & Company. He served as CEO until 1994, when Bill Campbell took over, and has remained on the board.
Tom Proulx
Tom Proulx was a Stanford University student when he joined Scott Cook in 1983 and wrote the original Quicken program. He led product development during Intuit's early years and later left the company's day-to-day management.
Sage Group
David Goldman
David Goldman was the businessman behind Sage's founding in 1981. Looking for a computer program to speed up job estimating at his Newcastle print firm, he worked with Graham Wylie and Paul Muller, then turned the software into a product for other small busine…
Graham Wylie
Graham Wylie wrote much of Sage's early software while a student at Newcastle University and became one of the company's co-founders in 1981.
Paul Muller
Paul Muller co-founded Sage in 1981 with David Goldman and Graham Wylie, helping develop the original estimating and accounting software that the company commercialised for small businesses.
CEOs and their tenures
Intuit
- Brad Smith2008–2018
Former CEO & Executive Chairman
He left Intuit with a recurring-revenue cloud business and served as executive chairman until 2022.
Source - Sasan Goodarzi2019–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Revenue grew from $6.8 billion in fiscal 2019 to $21.4 billion in fiscal 2026 under Goodarzi, though the 2026 restructuring and slower TurboTax units drove a sharp share-price decline.
Source - Sandeep Aujla2024–present
Chief Financial Officer
CFO since August 2024, succeeding Michelle Clatterbuck.
Source
Sage Group
- David Goldman1981–present
Co-Founder
Founding businessman behind Sage.
Source - Graham Wylie1981–2003
Co-Founder & Executive Architect
Technical co-founder of Sage.
Source - Steve Hare2018–present
Chief Executive Officer
Led Sage's shift to a focused cloud subscription business.
Source
Timeline: Intuit and Sage Group side by side
1981Sage Group
Sage founded in Newcastle
David Goldman, Paul Muller and Graham Wylie founded Sage after building estimating software for a Newcastle print business.
1984Intuit
Quicken Launches
Intuit releases Quicken, its first personal finance program, built to mimic a paper checkbook.
1984Sage Group
Amstrad bundling drives adoption
Accounting software bundled with Amstrad PCW computers in the mid-1980s brought Sage to a mass UK small-business market.
1989Sage Group
London Stock Exchange listing
Sage listed on the London Stock Exchange and began acquiring accounting software firms abroad.
1992Intuit
QuickBooks Launches
Intuit introduces QuickBooks, accounting software written in plain language for small business owners.
1993Intuit
IPO and ChipSoft Merger
Intuit lists on Nasdaq and merges with ChipSoft, the maker of TurboTax.
1995Intuit
Microsoft Deal Abandoned
Microsoft drops its 1994 agreement to buy Intuit after the U.S. Justice Department sues to block it.
1999Sage Group
FTSE 100 entry and Peachtree deal
Sage joined the FTSE 100 and bought US small-business accounting brand Peachtree, later sold as Sage 50 in the US.
2016Intuit
Quicken Sold
Intuit sells Quicken to H.I.G. Capital to focus on QuickBooks and TurboTax in the cloud.
2017Sage Group
Intacct acquired for $850 million
Sage bought US cloud financial management company Intacct for $850 million, creating Sage Intacct.
2018Sage Group
Steve Hare becomes CEO
CFO Steve Hare succeeded Stephen Kelly as CEO in November 2018 and focused Sage on cloud subscriptions.
2020Intuit
Credit Karma Acquired
Intuit completes its acquisition of Credit Karma in December 2020.
2021Intuit
Mailchimp Acquired
Intuit closes its roughly $12 billion purchase of Mailchimp in November 2021.
2023Intuit
Intuit Assist and GenOS
Intuit launches its generative AI operating system GenOS and the Intuit Assist assistant across its products.
2024Intuit
Mint Shut Down
Intuit closes Mint in March 2024 and moves users to Credit Karma.
2024Sage Group
Sage Copilot launched
Sage introduced Sage Copilot, a generative AI assistant built into its accounting products.
2025Sage Group
FY25 revenue reaches ~$3.32 billion (£2,513 million)
Underlying revenue rose 10% to ~$3.32 billion (£2,513 million), 97% recurring, with a 23.9% underlying operating margin.
2026Intuit
17% Workforce Cut
In May 2026 Intuit announces about 3,000 job cuts and reduced Mailchimp investment; shares fall about 20%.
2026Intuit
Revenue Tops $20 Billion
Fiscal 2026 revenue reaches $21.4 billion, and Mailchimp becomes a separate operating segment from August 1, 2026.
2026Sage Group
Growth accelerates to 11%
Revenue rose 11% to ~$2.72 billion (£2,062 million) in the nine months to 30 June 2026; Jacqui Cartin became CFO in January.
Acquisitions
Intuit
- Mailchimp2021$12B
- Credit Karma2020$8.1B
- ChipSoft (TurboTax)1993Undisclosed
Sage Group
- AutoEntry (OCREX Limited)2019Undisclosed
- Intacct Corporation2017$850M
- Fairsail (Sage People)2017Undisclosed
Questions about Intuit vs Sage Group
Who is the CEO of Intuit Inc. and The Sage Group plc?
Intuit Inc. is led by Sasan Goodarzi and The Sage Group plc is led by Steve Hare. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Intuit Inc. founded vs The Sage Group plc?
The Sage Group plc was founded in 1981 — 2 years before Intuit Inc., which was founded in 1983. The Sage Group plc's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Intuit Inc..
How many employees does Intuit Inc. have compared to The Sage Group plc?
Intuit Inc. employs approximately 18,200 people, while The Sage Group plc employs approximately 12,000. Intuit Inc. has the larger workforce at 18,200 employees, compared to The Sage Group plc's 12,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Intuit Inc. and The Sage Group plc headquartered?
Intuit Inc. is headquartered in United States and The Sage Group plc is headquartered in United Kingdom. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Intuit Inc. and The Sage Group plc?
Intuit Inc. was founded by Scott Cook, Tom Proulx. The Sage Group plc was founded by David Goldman, Graham Wylie, Paul Muller.
Which company has a longer operating history — Intuit Inc. or The Sage Group plc?
The Sage Group plc has been operating for approximately 45 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Intuit Inc. has been in operation for around 43 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Intuit vs Sage Group overview