Two top women in UK tech have been awarded gongs in the New Year Honours list.
Vin Murria, who is currently a non-executive director on the boards of Softcat and Sophos, has been awarded an OBE. Jacqueline de Rojas, who is president of TechUK, has been awarded a CBE.
Vin was born in what she once described as ‘not much more than a mud hut’ in the Punjab and came to the UK when she was three. Vin was awarded a “women in engineering” apprenticeship at Rolls Royce who then helped her through university where she graduated with a first in Computer Sciences.
Murria founded Advanced Computer Software, which private equity group Vista bought for £725 million in 2014 and netting Murria over £100 million.
She is a Sophos and Softcat board member and is a non-executive director at Zoopla, a senior partner at NM Rothschild, and a managing partner at HG Capital.
Writing in his bog TechMarketView chairman Richard Holway – himself holding an MBE – said it was a surprise that Murria had not received a reward before.
“Vin is not just a successful entrepreneur. Vin has been at the forefront for the advancement of women – be that helping disadvantaged young girls in India, via the PS Foundation that she established, to setting up academies for employees to develop their potential. Vin’s philanthropic activities are almost too numerous to mention. Indeed, I personally am delighted that Vin has recently become a Patron of the Prince’s Trust. A lot of Vin’s time – both in the past and at present – is devoted to mentoring. Vin has helped so many people along the way – sharing the rewards of her success”, Holway said.
Also recognised is de Rojas, who has had spells in senior management at a number of vendors including CA Technologies, Citrix, McAfee, and more recently a stint at Sage.
Jacqueline de Rojas
Jacqueline de Rojas is the president of techUK, a non-profit organisation which represents the UK’s technology industry.
De Rojas is a non-executive director on the board of Rightmove and on the board of Costain. She was appointed the chair of Digital Leaders in October.
De Rojas is made a CBE for services to international trade in the technology industry.
Speaking of her award on LinkedIn, de Rojas said: “To be included in the New Year Honours list is an amazing endorsement of the progress made in the UK technology industry. We are a digital nation of significance.”
