Sage has put an emphasis on increasing the number of women among its executive ranks. According to CEO Steve Kelly, in the last 18 months women have risen from representing a quarter of the top 150 of the company's leaders to one third. Kelly made those statements in the company's recent webcast for its earnings for the year ended September 30.

The Sage Group has chosen technology leader and British government official Stephen Kelly as its new CEO. Kelly will take over from the current job holder, Guy Berruyer on November 5. On that date, Berruyer will also retire as a director of the United Kingdom-based company, but will remain available in a transition role until the end of March. Kelly will receive an annual salary of about $1.3 million and a one-time award of about $1.7 million that vests over a six years, depending on share return performance.