Core Insights - Sage has appointed Gretchen O'Hara as the new Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, bringing over two decades of experience in business development and ecosystem transformation [1][2] Group 1: Leadership and Experience - O'Hara's previous role was Vice President of Worldwide Channels and Alliances at Splunk, where she transformed the global partner ecosystem and strategy [2] - She has an extensive background with 18 years at Microsoft, focusing on sustainability, AI, and market strategies [3] Group 2: Strategic Goals - In her new role, O'Hara will focus on scaling the partner ecosystem, enhancing growth through innovative business models, and leveraging advancements in AI and cloud technology [1][4] - Sage aims to bring AI and innovation to the forefront, helping partners accelerate revenue and create new growth opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) [2][4] Group 3: Recent Developments - The appointment follows Sage's recent launch of an AI-driven Making Tax Digital tool for Income Tax, which is set to be part of the Sage Copilot offerings and is scheduled for release in October 2025 [4]

Core Insights - Sage has launched an AI-driven Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax automation tool, designed to simplify quarterly tax updates into a single workflow, marking it as the UK's first tool of its kind, with an expected release in October 2025 [1] - The tool will assist accounting firms in preparing for mandatory quarterly updates starting April 2026 for landlords and self-employed individuals earning over £50,000, by organizing client data and minimizing manual tasks [2] Group 1 - The MTD for Income Tax automation tool will facilitate client categorization, task scheduling, document management, and early identification of potential issues, supporting compliance with new digital record-keeping requirements [2] - Sage's chief product officer emphasized that the Sage Platform enables faster, more secure product delivery, helping accountants and businesses remain compliant while focusing on growth [3] - The tool is part of Sage's broader strategy to integrate AI across its products, enhancing operational efficiency for accountancy firms as they approach the 2026 MTD deadline [4] Group 2 - The Sage Copilot, which is already utilized for task automation and insight generation, will be further enhanced by AI Agents to manage various operational tasks such as payroll and compliance [4] - The MTD for Income Tax automation tool will be available through Sage's suite of MTD solutions and within the Sage for Accountants offering in the UK, specifically tailored for accountancy firms [4]