Oracle vs Sage Group: Founders, CEOs and History
Oracle was founded in 1977 by Lawrence Joseph Ellison, Robert Nimrod Miner, Edward A. Oates and is led by Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia. Sage Group was founded in 1981 by David Goldman, Graham Wylie, Paul Muller and is led by Steve Hare.
Company facts
Oracle
- Founded
- 1977
- Headquarters
- Austin, Texas, United States
- Current CEO
- Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia
- Employees
- 141,000
Sage Group
- Founded
- 1981
- Headquarters
- Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
- Current CEO
- Steve Hare
- Employees
- 12,000
Founders
Oracle
Lawrence Joseph Ellison
Oracle possesses arguably the most aggressive, intensely competitive, and controversial founding story in the entire history of Silicon Valley, rooted entirely in a CIA contract and driven by arguably the most competitive billionaire in American business histo…
Robert Nimrod Miner
Bob Miner co-founded Oracle and served as the central technical architect behind the company's early database products. While Ellison drove sales and strategy, Miner focused on making the software work for demanding customers.
Edward A. Oates
Ed Oates co-founded Oracle in 1977 and played an important role in the company's early technical and product formation. He helped the young company take relational database concepts and present them in an usable, commercially credible way.
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
Oracle
- Hilary Maxson
Chief Financial Officer
CFO presenting Oracle's FY2027 guidance of at least $90 billion in revenue on the September 2026 earnings call.
Source - Larry Ellison1977–present
Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer
Led Oracle as CEO from 1977 to 2014 and has since served as chairman and CTO, directing database and OCI technology strategy. Owns roughly 40% of Oracle shares.
Source - Safra Catz2014–2025
Executive Vice Chair (CEO 2014-2025)
Served as co-CEO from 2014 and sole CEO from 2019 until September 2025, when she became executive vice chair of the board.
Source - Clay Magouyrk2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Previously president of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, where he led the OCI build-out from its early engineering team. Named co-CEO on September 22, 2025 with responsibility tied to Oracle's AI infrastructure expansion.
Source - Mike Sicilia2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Previously president of Oracle Industries, overseeing industry applications including Oracle Health. Named co-CEO on September 22, 2025.
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: Oracle and Sage Group side by side
1977Oracle
Oracle Founded
Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates founded the company that became Oracle.
1981Sage Group
Sage founded in Newcastle
David Goldman, Paul Muller and Graham Wylie founded Sage after building estimating software for a Newcastle print business.
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.
1994Oracle
Acquired Rdb
Oracle acquired Rdb in 1994.
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.
2010Oracle
Sun Microsystems Acquisition
Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems, adding Java, Solaris, and hardware assets.
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.
2022Oracle
Cerner Acquisition Completed
Oracle completed the Cerner acquisition and expanded into healthcare data systems.
2024Sage Group
Sage Copilot launched
Sage introduced Sage Copilot, a generative AI assistant built into its accounting products.
2025Oracle
Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia Named CEOs
Oracle promoted Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia to Chief Executive Officers; Safra Catz became Executive Vice Chair.
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.
2026Oracle
$67.357B FY2026 Revenue
Oracle reported record FY2026 total revenue of $67.357 billion.
2026Oracle
Q1 FY2027: $664B RPO
Oracle reported Q1 FY2027 revenue of $19.3B and RPO of $664B, and completed a $20B at-the-market common stock sale.
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
Oracle
- Cerner2022$28.3B
- NetSuite2016$9.3B
- Sun Microsystems2010$7.4B
- BEA Systems2008$8.5B
- Hyperion Solutions2007$3.3B
- Siebel Systems2006$5.8B
Sage Group
- AutoEntry (OCREX Limited)2019Undisclosed
- Intacct Corporation2017$850M
- Fairsail (Sage People)2017Undisclosed
Questions about Oracle vs Sage Group
Who is the CEO of Oracle Corporation and The Sage Group plc?
Oracle Corporation is led by Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia 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 Oracle Corporation founded vs The Sage Group plc?
Oracle Corporation was founded in 1977 — 4 years before The Sage Group plc, which was founded in 1981. Oracle Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger The Sage Group plc.
How many employees does Oracle Corporation have compared to The Sage Group plc?
Oracle Corporation employs approximately 141,000 people, while The Sage Group plc employs approximately 12,000. Oracle Corporation has the larger workforce at 141,000 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 Oracle Corporation and The Sage Group plc headquartered?
Oracle Corporation 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 Oracle Corporation and The Sage Group plc?
Oracle Corporation was founded by Lawrence Joseph Ellison, Robert Nimrod Miner, Edward A. Oates. The Sage Group plc was founded by David Goldman, Graham Wylie, Paul Muller.
Which company has a longer operating history — Oracle Corporation or The Sage Group plc?
Oracle Corporation has been operating for approximately 49 years, making it the more established of the two companies. The Sage Group plc has been in operation for around 45 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 Oracle vs Sage Group overview