Sunderland Software City

Bernie Callaghan, Chief Executive Officer, Sunderland Software City

Bernie took up the post of Chief Executive Officer in March 2009 and is responsible for the development and coordination of our strategic plan to position the North East as a global operation within the software industry.

Bernie has spent more than 20 years in a range of senior executive roles within the private and academic sectors.  From 2000, he was CEO of the Leighton Group, one of the North East’s leading digital businesses, during which time he was involved in managing the development of new product and service ideas and their commercialization into market-leading new ventures. 

In 2006 he played a key role in the management buy-out of one such company - 4Projects, going on to become Commercial and International Development Director, with responsibility for driving the business into new itnernational markets, particularly in the USA and Canada.  

Earlier in his career he worked in a number of roles within the University of Sunderland, including the position of Deputy Director for the Centre for International Education, with key responsibilities including the worldwide marketing and promotion of the University.