Sage Group vs Xero: Founders, CEOs and History
Sage Group was founded in 1981 by David Goldman, Graham Wylie, Paul Muller and is led by Steve Hare. Xero was founded in 2006 by Rod Drury, Hamish Edwards and is led by Sukhinder Singh Cassidy.
Company facts
Sage Group
- Founded
- 1981
- Headquarters
- Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
- Current CEO
- Steve Hare
- Employees
- 12,000
Xero
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Current CEO
- Sukhinder Singh Cassidy
- Employees
- 4,400
Founders
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.
Xero
Rod Drury
Rod Drury is a New Zealand software entrepreneur who co-founded Xero in Wellington in 2006 and served as its chief executive until 2018. Before Xero he built software businesses including AfterMail, which he sold to Quest Software.
Hamish Edwards
Hamish Edwards co-founded Xero with Rod Drury in Wellington in 2006 and was part of the founding team that built the original cloud accounting product for New Zealand small businesses.
CEOs and their tenures
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
Xero
- Rod Drury2006–2018
Co-Founder & Former Chief Executive Officer (2006-2018)
Built Xero from a Wellington start-up into an international cloud accounting company.
Source - Sukhinder Singh Cassidy2023–present
Chief Executive Officer
Under her leadership revenue grew from ~$812 million (NZ$1.40 billion) in FY23 to ~$1.59 billion (NZ$2.75 billion) in FY26, and Xero moved from a net loss to a net profit.
Source
Timeline: Sage Group and Xero 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.
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.
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.
2006Xero
Rod Drury and Hamish Edwards found Xero in Wellington, New Zealand.
2007Xero
Xero lists on the NZX.
2012Xero
Xero lists on the ASX.
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.
2018Xero
Steve Vamos succeeds Rod Drury as CEO; Xero buys Hubdoc and delists from the NZX.
2023Xero
Sukhinder Singh Cassidy becomes CEO.
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.
2025Xero
Claire Bramley becomes CFO on 1 April; Xero completes the Melio acquisition on 15 October.
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.
2026Xero
Matan Bar named CEO of Xero US; FY26 revenue reaches ~$1.59 billion (NZ$2.75 billion).
Acquisitions
Sage Group
- AutoEntry (OCREX Limited)2019Undisclosed
- Intacct Corporation2017$850M
- Fairsail (Sage People)2017Undisclosed
Questions about Sage Group vs Xero
Who is the CEO of The Sage Group plc and Xero?
The Sage Group plc is led by Steve Hare and Xero is led by Sukhinder Singh Cassidy. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Sage Group plc founded vs Xero?
The Sage Group plc was founded in 1981 — 25 years before Xero, which was founded in 2006. The Sage Group plc's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Xero.
How many employees does The Sage Group plc have compared to Xero?
The Sage Group plc employs approximately 12,000 people, while Xero employs approximately 4,400. The Sage Group plc has the larger workforce at 12,000 employees, compared to Xero's 4,400. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are The Sage Group plc and Xero headquartered?
The Sage Group plc is headquartered in United Kingdom and Xero is headquartered in New Zealand. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded The Sage Group plc and Xero?
The Sage Group plc was founded by David Goldman, Graham Wylie, Paul Muller. Xero was founded by Rod Drury, Hamish Edwards.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Sage Group plc or Xero?
The Sage Group plc has been operating for approximately 45 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Xero has been in operation for around 20 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 Sage Group vs Xero overview