Bridget Collins returns to Progress Software as CIO

Progress Software has appointed Bridget Collins as Chief Information Officer, marking her return to the company after a decade there earlier in her career as a software engineer.

She will lead the global IT and security organisation and report to Chief Executive Officer Yogesh Gupta. Her remit includes cybersecurity, the use of artificial intelligence across internal operations, and governance covering data, security and AI.

Collins brings more than 30 years of experience in enterprise IT, business transformation and AI strategy. She worked at Progress Software from 1997 to 2008, where she began her career.

Before rejoining the company, Collins was Chief Information and Business Transformation Officer at Rapid7, leading global IT and operations. She also held senior roles at Cerence as Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Information Officer, and at Nuance Communications as Vice President of Information Technology.

Gupta said the CIO function is central to Progress Software's operating model as it expands its use of AI and manages risk across the business.

"The operational excellence of our global CIO team plays a critical role in enabling our growth strategy and advancing AI across the business while mitigating risk," said Yogesh Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Progress Software.

He said Collins' background would support the company's efforts to manage growth and integrate acquired businesses.

"Bridget's deep expertise in enterprise technology, business transformation and cybersecurity will help us continue scaling our operations, integrating acquisitions and delivering exceptional experiences for our employees and customers. It is especially heartening to welcome Bridget back to Progress where she began her career as a software engineer," Gupta said.

Expanded remit

Collins' appointment puts her at the centre of several internal priorities at Progress Software. Alongside core IT leadership, she is expected to evaluate emerging technologies and strengthen governance around data, security and AI use.

That reflects a broader shift across software companies to bring AI policy and cybersecurity under closer executive oversight, particularly as internal use of automation tools grows and regulators pay closer attention to data management.

She will guide the advancement of AI across internal operations. In practice, that gives her responsibility not only for technology systems, but also for the standards governing how those systems are deployed and controlled across the business.

Collins indicated that she sees the role as closely linked to the company's broader AI agenda.

"Progress has established itself as a leader in delivering the context and control organisations need to succeed with AI," said Bridget Collins, Chief Information Officer, Progress Software.

"I look forward to partnering across the business to further expand upon Progress' AI vision in support of our customers and employees, and to become part of the company's next phase of growth," Collins said.

Career path

Her return brings back a senior executive with direct knowledge of the company's culture and engineering history. Collins started her career at Progress Software and spent about a decade there before moving into a series of technology leadership roles elsewhere in the software sector.

At Rapid7, she held a dual brief spanning information technology and business transformation. Earlier roles at Cerence and Nuance Communications also placed her in businesses focused on AI-related products, including virtual assistants, conversational AI and speech recognition.

Those positions gave her experience across operational technology, transformation programmes and cyber-focused environments, areas that increasingly converge under the modern Chief Information Officer role. In software companies, that often means one executive oversees not only internal systems, but also resilience, governance and the rules around AI adoption.

Collins was named a BostonCIO of the Year ORBIE Award winner in 2021. She holds a bachelor's degree from Providence College and an MBA in High Technology Management from Northeastern University.

The appointment comes as Progress Software continues to shape its internal technology strategy around AI governance, security oversight and acquisition integration. Collins will now lead those priorities across the company's global IT and security organisation.