Jonathan Cowan

EVP Product at Sage

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom

About

Commercially minded product / product marketing / strategy leader, with several years of Executive Leadership team experience in FTSE 100. 25+ years in tech, covering a range of disciplines from product marketing, product management, brand management, proposition development, through to strategy & planning and M&A. As at home with my sleeves rolled up, as I am with the bigger picture. Motivated by challenge, growth and the opportunity to learn. Specialties: Bringing propositions to market robustly, building effective relationships, simplifying the complex, and putting the customer at the heart of things, without forgetting the economic fundamentals Product Marketing, Brand management, Strategy, Product management, M&A, Financial forecasting and planning. Views here my own.

Experience

  • Sage (7 yrs 4 mos)
    • EVP, HR&P, Platform Strategy & Operations
      Jun 2025 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

    • Chief of Staff, EVP CEO Office
      Feb 2021 - May 2025 · 4 yrs 4 mos

    • Vice President, Small Business Products
      Mar 2019 - Feb 2021 · 2 yrs

  • Co-Founder at 5Toronto
    Feb 2019 - May 2022 · 3 yrs 4 mos

    Business consultancy focussing on Strategy, Business Planning, Customer Lifecycle, Solutions & Execution.

  • Utilitywise (Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom)
    • Chief Marketing Officer
      Aug 2017 - Feb 2019 · 1 yr 7 mos

    • Director of New Product Development
      Sep 2016 - Jul 2017 · 11 mos

  • Sage (Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom)
    • VP Business Development & Business Executive to President, Sage Europe
      Oct 2014 - Aug 2016 · 1 yr 11 mos

      At Sage we energise the success of businesses and their communities around the world through the use of smart technology and the imagination of our people. Member of the European Executive team driving successful outcomes through our 7,000+ colleagues across 11 countries. Responsible for European business planning & strategy, M&A strategy, and delivery of key strategic growth initiatives across European region, for FTSE 100 software company, Sage.

    • Head of Commercial Management, UK & Ireland
      May 2013 - Oct 2014 · 1 yr 6 mos

      Sage delivers world-class software and unique services that enable businesses across the globe from start-ups to enterprise size organisations to achieve their goals. I am responsible for the development and delivery of the product and service strategy for the Start-up and Small business segment, for Sage UK and Ireland. Reporting to the segment Managing Director, I lead a team of 40+ to manage the execution of that strategy across our portfolio of market leading Accounting, Payroll and Pension propositions including products of Sage One, Sage 50 and SageCover, ensuring financial performance and customer acquisition and retention targets are achieved.

    • Category Manager - Small Business Division, UK & Ireland
      May 2012 - May 2013 · 1 yr 1 mo

      Own and define thought leadership & strategic direction for Sage Payroll & CRM software category portfolio, and to drive execution across the UK & Ireland Business. - Report to the Sage Head of Commercial Management and (dotted line) to the Sage UKI Product & Services Director, communicating portfolio performance, and forward looking strategic plans. - Accountable for the category revenue & margin performance - Develop the overall category strategy for UKI, and production of one year business plans - Lead and drive product management & development of category portfolio

  • Head of Subscription at Skype
    Jan 2010 - Mar 2011 · 1 yr 3 mos

    Highly visible role within a fast growing, global software company specialising in internet telephony. Responsible for establishing Skype’s ‘pay monthly’ products into its paid services portfolio, to drive monetisation of significant free user base. • Fully accountable for significant double digit revenue growth and paid customer acquisition targets for Skype’s subscription business in 2010 • Lead development of pay monthly product roadmap to meet consumer needs, market & competitor challenges. • Planning and forecasting of Skype subscription revenue and margin performance in 3yr plan. • Production & delivery of regular key management reporting updates on unit performance.