Vin Murria spent seven years as founder and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Computer Software Plc, a $1.25bn market cap consolidator in the healthcare and business solutions sector which was acquired by Vista Private Equity in 2015, and five years as CEO of Computer Software Group plc, which following a take private and merger was acquired by Hellman Friedman for $800m. Prior to this Vin spent 15 years at Kewill Systems three of which as CEO and exited in March 2000 at a valuation of $1.8Bn. She is non-executive director at FTSE listed Zoopla plc and Softcat Plc, co-owner and partner of Elderstreet Investments. Her previous roles have included non-executive director of Chime Plc, Concateno Plc and Greenko Plc. Vin’s career has included a combination of venture capital, private equity and CEO/operational experience, centred around twenty years of M&A activity in the software sector. In 2007 she founded the PS Foundation a charity focused on the education and hardship of girls in India and the UK.
1. What is your current Position?
Founder and CEO of ADV Technology. This is my next venture in the software and technology space focusing on industry sectors where cyber security, regulatory change/compliance and aging demographics are likely to play a significant part. We will launch on the public markets in the New Year.
2. What is your proudest achievements?
Being able set up and fund the foundation supporting the education of young girls on behalf of my mother who as a young girl in rural India was not in a position to ever get an education for herself. The charity funds many students including a rural Indian girl at Oxford.
3. What inspires you?
People who have huge passion, energy, enthusiasm and magic for life. Great talent that is eager to learn, work hard, play hard and also give back. I am incredibly fortunate to have employed nearly 4000 personal during my career and many of them I would say fall it that category
4. What has been the biggest obstacle in your Career?
At 22, I was told that I would never make it because I was 1) a woman, 2) young and 3) Asian. The biggest challenge for all human beings is to believe in themselves and to ignore the detractors. Don’t ever let other people put limit on what you can do or be.
5. Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
My mother and my first CEO who was a long term mentor. The former gave me the confidence to take on the challenges and opportunities and the latter guided me away from any major detours early on in my career. Most importantly they both kept me grounded in the real world.
6. What is the best aspect about your current role?
The excitement and challenge of starting something vibrant and new, with a fabulous team of dedicated and skilled people, and in a world where technology is eating the world. The software and technology sector is moving at such a pace from Uber to Just Eat. Software that controls markets yet doesn’t own the infrastructure or the costs associated with it. More importantly the wealth we have created for hundreds (many have become millionaires) of our employees has changed people’s lives. It would be great to do it again and spread it even further.
7. And the Worst?
What’s there not to like???
8. What are your long term goals?
To create a strong viable business and culture that is fun to be part of but also something that does something bigger for the wider world. Most importantly never to waste my life creating something mediocre
9. If you were the prime minister what would you change?
The government has created a great business environment and i commend the work done. However the tax advantages enjoyed by Private Equity and companies like Facebook, Starbucks, Google and Amazon need to be addressed UK business is at a competitive disadvantage in our own environment.
10. If you were marooned on a desert island which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Nelson Mandela and Gandhi; their wisdom and words might help the world understand and deal with constructively many political and social problems facing us today.
