Sunderland Software City

Bernie Callaghan

Bernie Callaghan is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer of Sunderland Software City – the regional initative supporting and driving the growth of the North East software industry - to become Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law at Sunderland University.

Bernie said:

 “It was always going to take a very special opportunity to tempt me away from Sunderland Software City, but taking on a challenge like this has long been an ambition of mine, so ultimately the chance was too good to turn down.

“Very little in my life has given me as much pride and pleasure as being able to play my part in transforming my home city into a globally-recognised centre of software excellence. Sunderland Software City has already achieved so much in terms of helping local businesses and bringing jobs and investment to the area and I know I am leaving a great team in place to continue that work, and fully intended to remain close to the initiative both formally and informally”

Bernie was appointed Sunderland Software City’s first Chief Executive Officer in March 2009, with responsibility for developing and coordinating its strategic plan to develop the North East software industry.

Prior to this he spent more than 20 years in a range of senior executive roles within the private sector and academic world, including as CEO of the Leighton Group, one of the North East’s leading digital businesses, where he managed the development of new product ideas and their commercialisation into market-leading products and services.

In 2006 he played a key role in the management buy-out of one such company - 4Projects – becoming its Commercial and International Development Director, with responsibilities including establishing the business in the USA and Canada.

Earlier in his early career he worked in a number of roles within the University of Sunderland, including Deputy Director for the Centre for International Education, where his responsibilities included promoting the University worldwide.