Software Sector 'never been better'

October 21, 2005

Outgoing MD Gordon Bell said, “The software sector in Northern Ireland is in better shape than it has ever been, following some difficult years.

“Thankfully, Liberty IT has been insulated from any of these difficulties as we have grown steadily every year since our foundation.

“We have been aided in our growth because of the excellent staff we have in Belfast and the progressive approach of our parent company in the US, I know that the future also holds great prospects and growth, and I wish Willy all the best in his new role”.

Edmund Kelly, Liberty Mutual Group chairman, President and CEO, praised the Belfast operation for delivering high quality projects on time and on budget to each of the group’s strategic business units throughout the world.

The Boston-based group is a leading global insurer and is the sixth largest in the US. It employs around 38,000 people in nearly 900 offices throughout the world.

Gordon Bell is widely recognised as one of the pioneers of the software sector in Northern Ireland having set up Software Ireland in the 1970’s.

He was also head of IT sector investments at the industrial Development Board before being recruited as managing director of the new Liberty operations when Liberty Mutual decided to invest in Northern Ireland in late 1996.