The European chief executive of Fujitsu, the technology company whose Horizon software lies at the heart of the devastating Post Office IT scandal, is to step down from his executive role in March. Paul Patterson, who has represented the Japanese IT provider at the public inquiry into the affair, will transition to become the non-executive chair of Fujitsu's UK business, where he will retain responsibility for overseeing the company's ongoing response to the inquiry.
Leadership Change Amid Ongoing Scrutiny
Patterson's move comes at a critical juncture for Fujitsu, which faces intense scrutiny over its role in the Horizon scandal. The faulty accounting system led to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of subpostmasters and subpostmistresses across the UK, with the government estimating the final cost of compensation payouts to taxpayers could reach £1.8 billion. Patterson has been a central figure in Fujitsu's engagement with the inquiry, having publicly acknowledged the company's awareness of system flaws dating back to the 1990s.
Moral Obligation and Financial Redress
During his testimony at the judge-led hearings two years ago, Patterson stated that Fujitsu had a "moral obligation" to provide financial redress to those affected. He reiterated this position in recent separate testimony to MPs on the Commons business and trade committee, defending the company against criticism that it continued to secure hundreds of millions of pounds in UK government contracts while declining to specify a compensation figure for victims.
"When we last spoke I agreed with you on the moral obligation topic. I have maintained that position over the last two years since I saw you," Patterson told the committee. He emphasised that Fujitsu would determine the appropriate level of financial redress once Sir Wyn Williams' inquiry publishes its final conclusions, stating, "We need to be informed by Sir Wyn's report. We want to see that report. The quantum we will decide when we get to the final report."
Broader Impact and Human Cost
The scandal's human toll has been profound, with the inquiry's initial findings suggesting it may have contributed to more than 13 suicides. Patterson acknowledged Fujitsu's involvement from the outset, admitting that Horizon "did have bugs and errors in systems" and that the company "did help the Post Office in the prosecutions of the subpostmasters." According to the latest UK government figures, approximately £1.33 billion has already been disbursed to more than 10,000 victims, highlighting the scale of the miscarriage of justice.
Succession Planning and Future Oversight
A spokesperson for Fujitsu described Patterson's transition as part of broader succession planning within the business. In his new non-executive role, he will continue to manage the company's response to the inquiry, ensuring continuity in addressing the scandal's repercussions. This leadership reshuffle occurs as the public and political pressure on Fujitsu mounts, with ongoing debates about corporate accountability and the ethical responsibilities of technology providers in public sector contracts.
The move underscores the long shadow cast by the Horizon scandal, which remains one of the most significant IT failures in UK history, affecting thousands of lives and reshaping discussions around justice, technology governance, and corporate morality in government procurement.
