HEALTH sector software specialist iSOFT said it was confident of another successful year, as founder and chairman Patrick Cryne presided over his last annual meeting. Mr Cryne, who led a £12m buyout of the fledgling company from KPMG Consulting in 1999, is stepping down as chairman this year. He told shareholders at Manchester Airport that the company had continued to make "considerable progress" in becoming a global leader in its field. "The momentum we have in the international iSOFT proposition, combined with growing demand from the market, provides the basis for significant growth over the coming years. Performance in the early months of the current financial year has met our expectations and, as a result, we look forward with confidence to a successful outturn to the year." Although he is stepping down as chairman, Mr Cryne is staying on as a consultant to iSOFT, advising chief executive Tim Whiston on strategy.