Paul Walker, the former chief executive of Sage Group plc and a major investor in the digital technology sector in both the UK and US, served as Newcastle University’s Chair of Council from August 2017 to July 2024. 

Currently the chairman of the Perform Group plc – a sports digital media company and also Chair of the RELX Group, Paul is also a non-executive director of Experian plc.  He also sits on the board of US-based Sophos plc which is a specialist in security software technology.  He previously was Chairman of Halma plc (a market leader in specialist Safety, Health and Environmental technologies).  Until September 2010, Paul was Chief Executive of The Sage Group plc, a position he held for sixteen years after joining Sage in 1984 as Company Accountant and CFO in 1987.

Paul has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Newcastle University. He served as a lay member of the University’s Council since 2011 and has been the chair of the Science City Partnership between the University and Newcastle City Council, since its inception in 2004. He was made a Doctor of Civil Law on Friday 18 July.

Paul Walker said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the University of Newcastle, an institution that holds a very special place in my heart. Serving as Chair of Council for seven years was a privilege, and I remain immensely proud of all we achieved together.”