Meet the Industry Professional: Ann Ellis – Empowering Global Expansion Through Local Expertise

From Primary Classrooms to Global Business Leadership

Before becoming the CEO of an international company supporting global workforce compliance, Ann Ellis led a very different kind of team—as a deputy head teacher at a primary school near Halifax. Her journey into international business began in 1995, when her husband John accepted a telecoms role in Italy. The family relocated, and just a year later, Ann co-founded a company to support freelance engineers like John, who were working across Europe but faced complex compliance barriers due to local employment laws.

“I was the first employee of the company,” she recalls. “My office was a broom cupboard in our flat in Northern Italy.”

That modest beginning sparked what would become Mauve Group—a pioneering organization helping businesses to hire, relocate and pay workers around the world compliantly and efficiently. Their breakthrough came with a major telecoms contract in Hungary in 1999, and the company quickly expanded its operations, setting up teams in Cyprus, the UK, and beyond.

Building Mauve Group from the Ground Up

As co-Founder and CEO, Ann played a hands-on role in the company’s early growth. She travelled across continents to set up new entities and build a network of local experts—creating compliant employment solutions for engineers supporting global telecoms networks. That hands-on experience, she says, became the foundation of Mauve’s expertise in global expansion and employment.

What began as a service for telecoms engineers has since evolved into a fully-fledged global Employer of Record (EOR) and compliance consultancy. Mauve now supports clients from a wide range of sectors—including NGOs, universities, and technology companies—enabling them to hire talent across borders without the need for local entities.

Flexible, Compliant Solutions for Global Teams

Today, Mauve Group offers a comprehensive suite of services: EOR, global payroll , immigration support, international HR consultancy, tax compliance, company set-up, and global risk assessments. With entities in 70 countries and solutions in over 150, their global reach is extensive—and personal.

“We’re a flexible company that provides bespoke solutions,” Ann explains. “Our clients vary from large organisations like IMAX to agile tech firms, and we tailor our services to meet their unique needs.”

Ann attributes much of Mauve’s success to its experienced team, many of whom have been with the company for over 15 years. This longevity ensures not just deep institutional knowledge, but trusted relationships with local experts on the ground.

Driving Innovation with Mauve Insight

To meet the demands of modern global employment, Mauve developed its own proprietary platform—Mauve Insight. This tool facilitates seamless onboarding, expense approvals, leave requests, and secure data access. It also offers a Help Center and an automated customer service platform for both clients and workers.

“We’re also building an in-house payroll and invoicing system,” says Ann, “so we can continue to improve our internal operations and provide faster, more efficient services.”

Guiding Clients into New Markets

With clients expanding into diverse markets, Mauve acts as both a guide and a partner. Ann notes that many companies underestimate the complexity of local laws when expanding abroad. Mauve’s risk assessments and local partnerships ensure clients remain fully compliant, avoiding legal pitfalls and unexpected costs.

They’re also developing a market research tool to help businesses identify the most strategic regions for expansion, based on industry trends and compliance factors.

Remote Work and Global Talent Access

The rise of remote work, Ann says, has changed the game. “Companies can now access the best talent regardless of geography,” she notes. “One of our clients in Brazil, a gaming company, hired top professionals across multiple countries. We made it possible for those workers to be employed compliantly, in their local jurisdictions.” This kind of agility, she believes, is key to long-term business growth.

A Personal Touch in Leadership

Despite leading a global operation, Ann stays grounded in the business. “I was a one-woman show in the early days, and I still enjoy getting involved operationally from time to time,” she says. “It helps me understand the challenges different teams face.” Clients often come to Mauve with an idea of how to reach their expansion goal—like setting up an entity—but discover through consultation that EOR might be a more cost-effective and scalable option. Ann and her team are focused on problem-solving and building lasting client relationships.

Work-Life Balance and Global Living

When she’s not running a global business, Ann enjoys connecting with friends and family over good food and wine. With homes in Dubai, Rome, Cyprus, and Miami, she takes full advantage of her love of travel and culture. Regular workouts and scenic walks keep her grounded, while her go-to TV picks include The White Lotus, The Gentlemen, and Slow Horses.

The Mauve Advantage

Under Ann’s leadership, Mauve Group has grown into a trusted partner for organizations navigating the complex world of global employment. By combining local knowledge, regulatory expertise, and a people-first approach, the company empowers clients to grow with confidence.

Connect with Ann Ellis
🔗 Ann Ellis on LinkedIn
🔗 Mauve Group – Mauve Group is a global HR, Employer of Record and business consultancy provider, supporting organisations to expand, hire and pay workers internationally.

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