# Bob Willans

> Bob Willans co-founded XTM International with Andrzej Zydroń in 2002 and served as CEO until retiring in January 2023. A Cambridge graduate whose earlier career included textile factory management in South America, an Apple dealership, an internet service provider and work at SDL, he helped build an enterprise translation management software company that attracted K1 investment in 2021.

- **Role:** Co-founder and former CEO at XTM International
- **Organizations:** XTM International, SDL, VerseIQ
- **Education:** University of Cambridge
- **Known for:** Co-founded XTM International in 2002 and led it as CEO for more than twenty years., Led XTM to the 2021 K1 investment, when it reported 182 employees, 400 paying customers and 8,500 paying users., Helped build an enterprise software business with a reported £8.3 million revenue run rate and £7 million annual recurring revenue in February 2021.

## Career timeline

- **1977-1980** — Attended the University of Cambridge; public speaker biography confirms he graduated, without identifying a degree.
- **—** — Managed a textile factory in South America in his late twenties; career included Chile and Brazil.
- **—** — Established an Apple dealership and an internet service provider in the United Kingdom.
- **2000** — Sold his internet service provider business during the dot-com boom.
- **—** — Worked at SDL, including on the early translation management project SDL Webflow, before founding XTM.
- **2002** — Co-founded XTM International with Andrzej Zydroń, developing a team in Poznań.
- **2015** — Scheduled to demonstrate XTM quality assessment and TAUS DQF analysis at LocWorld in Silicon Valley on October 15.
- **2019** — Discussed automation, product planning and development maintenance allocation at the TAUS Global Content Summit in London.
- **2021** — Led XTM during K1’s majority investment; transaction completed January 22 and was announced February 11.
- **2023** — Retired as CEO in January; Ian Evans succeeded him, and XTM announced Willans would remain a board member.

## Achievements

- Co-founded XTM International in 2002 and led it as CEO for more than twenty years.
- Led XTM to the 2021 K1 investment, when it reported 182 employees, 400 paying customers and 8,500 paying users.
- Helped build an enterprise software business with a reported £8.3 million revenue run rate and £7 million annual recurring revenue in February 2021.

## Latest updates

- **2023-04** — XTM listed Willans as a speaker for its April 19-20 London event following his retirement as CEO.
- **2023-01** — XTM announced Ian Evans as CEO on January 10 and said retiring CEO Willans would remain involved as a board member.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/bobwillans

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/bob-willans
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21