Professor of Computer Science at the University of Cambridge and Managing Director of Microsoft's Cambridge Research Laboratory.
Regretfully, Roger passed away (from cancer) on Feb 28th, 2003, aged 67. :-(
You can find a wonderful tribute made to him in a special celebration on Feb 17th, 2003 here: http://www.research.microsoft.com/~aherbert/needham_50_5.aspx
-- DavidWeller