Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Ann Budge

Ann Cochrane Cook Wallace Budge is a Scottish businesswoman and company director.

Last revised
Jul 30, 2026
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Ann Cochrane Cook Wallace Budge1 OBE (born 21 February 1948) is a Scottish businesswoman and company director.2

Career

Budge graduated with a psychology degree, and became the first woman appointed to a senior position in Scottish & Newcastle after starting her career there as a trainee programmer. After leaving F International – now Xansa – Budge set up business working from home, and teaming up with Allison Newell in 1985, launched Newell & Budge, which specialised in making bespoke software and IT systems.3 It was sold to the French IT company Sopra Group for a reported £30 million, and Budge became a chief executive.34

Recognition

Budge was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by the Entrepreneurial Exchange in 20055 and was then inducted into the Entrepreneurial Exchange Hall of Fame in November 2013.67 She is listed as a role model by the Women's Engineering Society.8

She is an honorary graduate of Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh Napier University.9 She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2026 New Year Honours for services to sport and to the community in Midlothian.10

Football

Budge was disclosed as being the sole director of Bidco 1874, a consortium trying to buy Edinburgh-based football club Hearts out of administration, in early 2014.11 A majority shareholding in the club, which was previously owned by Lithuanian businesses run by Vladimir Romanov, was sold to Bidco 1874 in May 2014.12 Budge made several changes at the club immediately after taking control, including the appointment of Craig Levein as director of football and Robbie Neilson as head coach.1314

In 2016, Budge was awarded the Scottish Professional Football League CEO of the Year award.1516

On June 30th 2025, it was announced that Budge would step down as chair of Hearts in December after 12 years of business association with the club.

References

References

  1. "Ann Budge register of appointments". Find and update company information. gov.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  2. "Ms Anne Cochrane Cook Wallace Budge". Companies in the UK. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018.
  3. "Is this the original IT girl? ANN BUDGE Told 30 years ago that the future was in computers, she made it big, then sold up for [pounds]30m, hears Paul Rogerson". The Herald. 18 June 2005. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  4. "Proposed merger with Newell & Budge in the United Kingdom". Sopra Group. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  5. "Entrepreneurial Exchange Entrepreneur of the Year". The Entrepreneurial Exchange. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  6. "Entrepreneurial Exchange Hall of Fame 2013 – Ann Budge". The Entrepreneurial Exchange. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  7. "The Entrepreneurial Exchange Hall of Fame". The Entrepreneurial Exchange. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  8. "Women's Engineering Society Role Models". Women's Engineering Society. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  9. "Edinburgh Napier University Alumni & Development". Edinburgh Napier University. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  10. "No. 64940". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 2025. p. N10.
  11. McLauchlin, Brian (13 February 2014). "Ann Budge revealed as Foundation of Hearts' cash backer". BBC Sport. BBC.
  12. McLauchlin, Brian (9 May 2014). "Hearts: Ann Budge to start at Tynecastle on Monday". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  13. McLauchlin, Brian (12 May 2014). "Craig Levein lands Hearts role as boss Gary Locke exits". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  14. "Hearts: Managerial changes were required, says Craig Levein". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  15. "winners". footballbusinessawards.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-12. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  16. "Portsmouth's Mark Catlin Wins CEO Of The Year". fcbusiness Magazine. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.