CFO transition at Sage as Howell prepares to exit
Sage Group has announced that Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Howell will step down at the end of 2025 after 12 years with the business, including five as a non-executive director and seven in the CFO role. He will be succeeded by Jacqui Cartin, currently EVP Group Financial Controller, from 1 January 2026.
Howell said he would leave the board to focus on non-executive work. During his tenure, he has overseen Sage’s strategic transformation and put in place “strong financial foundations to support Sage’s consistent growth.”
“It has been both a pleasure and an honor to have worked at Sage over the last 12 years, and I’m proud of the strategic transformation Sage has achieved during that period,” Howell said. “I’d like to thank Andrew, Steve and also my many colleagues, past and present, for their support. I’m confident that the future for Sage is an exciting one and I will hand over to Jacqui knowing that the company is well set for many years of continued success.”
Cartin joined Sage from KPMG in 2018 and has held a number of finance leadership roles. She currently leads on financial reporting, capital management, treasury and tax, with additional responsibility for M&A integration and digital transformation in finance and sales.
“It is a huge honor to be appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Sage,” Cartin said. “I look forward to joining the Board and the Executive Leadership Team as we work together to deliver strong outcomes for all of our stakeholders, including continued success for shareholders.”
Sage CEO Steve Hare praised Howell’s contribution, saying: “Jonathan has been a fantastic support to me and the broader Executive Leadership Team. It is testament to his contribution that he will leave Sage in such a strong financial and strategic position.”
On Cartin’s appointment, he added: “Jacqui is an outstanding successor with a deep knowledge of Sage and the drivers of its performance, and she has been a key leader of our transformation.”
Chair Andrew Duff also offered his thanks: “He has shown dedication and leadership during a period of significant growth and transformation for Sage and has driven Sage’s financial strategy with a sharp focus on shareholder value.”