About Us: The Board

Derrick McCourt

Based in Edinburgh, Derrick McCourt is Microsoft’s UK Director of Government. Derrick leads a team who work with UK Government Departments and Agencies, Local Authorities, and the devolved Scottish & Welsh Governments to transform the relationship citizenships have with the Public Sector through the smart use of technology.

Derrick began his career in the Irish IT industry as a developer, progressing to consultancy and project management roles and then into sales & marketing leadership positions. He joined Microsoft in 2001, establishing Microsoft’s office in Belfast and playing a prominent role in the local IT industry. As part of the Microsoft Ireland leadership team he ran the company’s Irish Public Sector Business.

Prior to his move in 2009 to Scotland, Derrick had an international role as a Director in Microsoft’s World Wide Licensing & Pricing Group. During this time he and his team were engaged in the largest and most strategic negotiations with Governments and Academia throughout the Europe, Middle East & Africa region.

Derrick holds an honours degree in Computing Science from the University of Ulster, and an MBA from the Open University. He is an Honorary Visiting Fellow at Edinburgh Napier University and a member of the Board of Directors at the Wise Group, a Glasgow based social enterprise focused on getting people back into work and regenerating communities.