activpayroll has entered a new era of leadership while staying true to the values and foundations that have guided its growth for more than two decades. What began as a two-person operation in Aberdeen in 2001 has evolved into a trusted global payroll and mobility solutions provider, operating across more than 150 countries and supporting over 500 customers worldwide.
Founded by Alison Sellar OBE, activpayroll’s early focus was providing payroll solutions to the oil and gas industry. Through innovation, service excellence, and a commitment to its people, the company has built a reputation as a trusted global partner. Today, activpayroll serves a wide range of international organisations operating across diverse industry sectors, from technology and pharmaceutical to financial services, energy, retail, and beyond.
A Leadership Story Rooted in Experience
As activpayroll looks to the future, it does so under a refreshed leadership team, the company’s future is now being guided by Gary Henderson, who has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Henderson’s appointment marks not just a new chapter for activpayroll, but a story of growth from within, having first joined the business over 12 years ago from studying at university in Aberdeen.
Rising through the ranks from early operational roles to Chief Operations Officer, and now CEO, Gary embodies the company’s ethos of nurturing talent and rewarding dedication.
Gary added: “This business has been built on strong values of integrity, service excellence, and ambition, and my commitment is to carry those forward while ensuring we continue to innovate and grow.”
Strengthened Leadership for the Next Chapter
Supporting Gary in the leadership team is Andrew Philp, formerly Corporate Development Officer based in Kuala Lumpur, who has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. With experience spanning multiple functions across the business, he is well positioned to evolve activpayroll’s Finance function and ensure closer alignment with customer needs.
Andrew brings a wealth of financial expertise to the role, having spent many years with KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms, where he specialised in audit, advisory, and financial management. His time at KPMG provided him with a deep understanding of financial governance and strategic planning, which he now applies to driving activpayroll’s continued growth.
Gary added: “Andrew is uniquely placed to lead a key focus for us which is to evolve the Finance function to strengthen its connection with our customers. I have every confidence that he will continue to make a big impact in this new role.”
Record Year
activpayroll recently reported another year of strong financial performance, underscoring the resilience of its global business model and continued customer confidence.
For the financial year ending 31 March 2025, turnover increased by 10% to £57.4 million, reflecting both organic growth and a full-year contribution from the LIMES International BV acquisition. Operating profit rose sharply to £6.1 million, up from £3.5 million in the prior year, while EBITDA more than doubled to £10.1 million, supported by tighter financial discipline, investment in technology, and strong customer retention.
Leadership with Deep Roots
To completement the leadership team, Darren Barclay has been appointed Chief Operations Officer, bringing a wealth of experience from his own journey within activpayroll. Darren joined the company as a Trainee System Engineer, working his way up through multiple roles before taking on the leadership of operations.
Gary said: “Darren’s deep understanding of our business, combined with his operational expertise, makes him the perfect fit to lead our global operations. Like me, he has grown with the company, and his perspective ensures we continue to deliver exceptional service to our customers while scaling efficiently.”
Honouring the Past, Driving the Future
Zubin Randeria joined as incoming Chair of the Board. Zubin joins activpayroll after a successful career at PwC, where he not only helped grow and scale businesses, but also led successful turnarounds-including Thomas Cook in 2011.
Gary added: “Zubin’s experience and perspective is invaluable as we move forward to create stability with our external stakeholders.”
With a strengthened leadership team, renewed investment, and a legacy of excellence, activpayroll is poised for an exciting new chapter. The company’s story, from local start-up to global leader, is one of innovation underpinned by integrity, a legacy the new leadership team is determined to uphold.
Gary concluded: "We partner with organisations to simplify global operations tackling challenges such as global payroll compliance, regulations and mobility, multi-currency payroll remittances management, payroll system integration, and standardisation. By providing one vendor solution, global reporting and analytics, and access to local expertise through advanced technology and automation, we help businesses operate seamlessly across borders.”