Kuljit has responsibility for all commercial aspects of the company's business including sales and marketing.

Kuljit's appointment, effective immediately, underpins Columba's aggressive growth plans, focusing on financial centres in London and New York.

Prior to joining Columba Systems, Kuljit spent 17 years at Staffware, a leader in business process management and one of Europe's top software companies, where he was CEO for the high growth and profitable US region. In his career with Staffware, Kuljit also ran both the UK and then global sales operations covering 23 countries, helping Staffware to grow at an average compound growth rate of 40% per annum over the eight years it was a UK publicly listed company until it was purchased by TIBCO in 2004.

Speaking about this significant development for Columba Systems, Dean Ratcliffe, CEO and founder, said: "Kuljit Bawa joining our team is a major coup for the company. It is a credit to Columba Systems that he decided we have the standing and potential to excite him after his outstanding success with Staffware over many years on the global stage, where he focused particularly on the financial sector. He will be a major asset in our quest to build on our customer base of seven of the top 10 investment banks in London."

Kuljit Bawa commented: "I see in Columba a company with similar characteristics and values to Staffware. I have also become a shareholder to underpin my commitment to its future."

John O'Connell, Columba's chairperson and ex-chairman/founder of Staffware, said: "Kuljit's experience in driving an enterprise software business will help to accelerate Columba's growth. The timing of his joining could not be better in terms of building on Columba's own successful growth in the three years I have been on the board."