Xansa High-flier Hilary Cropper dies

DAME Hilary Cropper, at one time Britain's best-paid female executive, has died after a three-year battle against ovarian cancer. Cropper, who led the IT outsourcing group Xansa for 18 years before she stepped down due to her ill-health last year, died on Boxing Day at the age of 63.

She had been one of the country's best-known corporate leaders, transforming FI Group from a company employing part-time computer programmers into a wide-ranging IT services and consultancy group, later renamed Xansa.

At the height of Xansa's fortunes in 1999, Cropper picked up £17m in pay and from cashing in share options.

After her diagnosis she became a campaigner and fund-raiser for the CancerBACUP charity. Her non-executive directorships included Barclays and she served on Government employment panels.

Xansa chief executive Alistair Cox said: 'To me, she was a truly inspiring leader, a mentor and a great friend. She will be sorely missed.'