We are sad to report that Stewart Anderson (pictured), founder and previous owner of Aspasia Software (now MRI Sales and Lettings) has died.

Stewart Anderson was a trailblazer and leading innovator in the development of a fully cloud-based solution for the property sector.

He was inspired, following a meeting with Larry Ellison of Oracle fame in the mid-nineties, to almost immediately pivot the company business strategy for SPA Microsystems Limited away from its then current model, to become a provider of what became known as ‘cloud-based’ software and is an industry standard.

Over the course of the following few months Stewart and Lesley began to establish connections in various sectors and it rapidly became clear that a major opportunity existed in the estate agency market.

It rapidly became clear that a major opportunity existed in the estate agency market.”

Many incumbent suppliers were issuing both software and updates to their software via floppy discs which were plugged into a computer in the corner of the office and the concept of networked offices running through a central server was still rare. So Stewart was way ahead in innovation.

Over the course of the next five years, Stewart and Lesley worked tirelessly to promote the message of web-based software often relying on dial-up lines as these were the days before ADSL.

A bastion of the early Property Computer Show days, originating in Earls Court and then in future years migrating to the Business Design Centre, SPA Microsystems limited quickly changed its name to the more recognisable Aspasia brand.

Growth, success and acquisition

The company continued to grow successfully over the following years, choosing Propertydrum magazine (now incorporated into The Negotiator) to help promote the message through a series of informational advertorials.

Stewart and Lesley handed over the day-to-day running to Trevor Youens, who to this day remains in the business. They sold to Qube Global Software (Now MRI) in 2012, which started a new chapter for the product

The original Aspasia product now known as MRI Sales and Lettings still forms the foundation of the sales and lettings offering from MRI and Stewart has to be credited with being responsible for establishing a robust and scalable solution utilised by many of the country’s leading sales and lettings agents.

Retirement

In retirement Stewart travelled extensively and indulged his love of both fast cars and fast boats whilst delighting in watching his family grow.

Survived by his wife Lesley, four daughters and eight grandchildren, Stewart will be remembered as one of the very earliest protagonists of cloud-based software and it would not be inaccurate to say that he should be recognised as a true visionary in the proptech space.

He will be missed. Our condolences and sympathy go out to his family and friends.