Hulme and Ogden met in the US while studying for MBAs at Harvard Business School. In 1981 they launched the IT services provider Computacenter. The Hertfordshire-based organisation provides consultancy services on what type of computer infrastructure clients need, sources the necessary hardware and software, and can also manage systems once they are in place. Key to the firm’s success has been landing contracts with large corporates, the NHS and government departments. These are clients with the means to continue investing in IT even in tough economic climates and challenging scenarios. The pair floated Computacenter on the stock market in 1998 and still serve as directors.