A COMPANY which supplies computer software is to have a change at the helm following the announcement that its co-founder is to step down after 26 years in charge.

DR Paul Bragg, co-founder of Adept Scientific in Letchworth GC, has stepped down from the day-to-day running of the company after 26 years at the helm.

He remains chairman of the Adept Scientific Group and will continue to play an active, hands-on role but his old job of managing director has gone to Mike Pisapia who joined Adept in January 2007 as general manager.

Mr Pisapia arrived with a strong technology and engineering background and having enjoyed a successful management career and extensive international business management experience in sales, marketing and product development.

This experience includes building up companies from start-up as well as guiding established companies through restructuring and improved sales focus.

His expertise in data acquisition, test and measurement, process control, maths and simulation software, as well as strategic planning and business systems, has and will continue to provide the skills that drive Adept Scientific forward and further strengthen the company’s position as one of the world’s most successful multi-source suppliers of hardware and software for technical computing applications, said a spokesman.

“I relish the challenge of ensuring that Adept Scientific continues its long story of success,” said Mr Pisapia, “and I’m confident that we are going to scale even greater heights.

“I know we’re meant to be in a global recession, but I see that as both a challenge and an opportunity – because there’ll always be a success story for a company with the products, the service and the values that Adept has to offer.”

He added: “I’m obviously delighted at the confidence Paul and the rest of the board have shown in me and it’s up to me to prove they’ve made the right decision. That’s what I’m determined to do.”

Dr Bragg added: “I’ve known, admired and trusted Mike for many years and was delighted when he agreed to join Adept in 2007.

“Since then he’s reinvigorated our sales team and his wide experience of the engineering market and his successful track record have benefited us enormously. He’s a fine manager too, and his new role is going to give him the opportunity to take the company even further forward.

“I’m planning to spend a little bit more time sailing and playing golf – and a lot more time thinking strategically without having to deal with every day-to-day issue myself.

“I’ll still have a lot to do as company chairman and I’ll still be putting in the hours and working very closely with Mike and the rest of the team to develop Adept’s business further and make sure we continue to achieve, and exceed, our targets and our business aims.”

Founded in 1984, Adept Scientific has grown into the leading company in its field, with a global turnover of almost $10 million, employing more than 50 highly skilled professionals with fully staffed offices in three countries and customers all over the world.