The Pearson Education Limited board
The Board of Pearson Education Limited is responsible for the governance of Pearson's UK education businesses, including the development and administration of qualifications for schools, colleges, higher education and work-based learning settings, plus educational publishing and technologies to support teaching and learning.
Non-executive Directors
Sir David Melville CBE
Sir David Melville CBE
Chair, Pearson Education Limited
David Melville is a board member of Policy Connect, the Network for Black and Asian Professionals, the Higher Education Commission and the Faversham Society. He is also patron of Comprehensive Future, the Disabled Sailors Association, Faversham Creek Trust and the Thames Gateway Young Chamber.
He began his career as a lecturer and later a professor of physics and from 2001 to 2007 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent. He was previously Chief Executive of the Further Education Funding Council and before that he was Vice-Chancellor of Middlesex University. He was a member of the Tomlinson Review of 14-19 Curriculum and Qualifications, the Foundation Degree Task Force and the Foster Review of the Future of Further Education Colleges.
He has been a primary, secondary and academy chair or vice-chair of school governors and a board member of five Universities and three FE Colleges; a board member of the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, The Place and the Council for Industry and Higher Education; Chair of Health Education England and the NHS Postgraduate Deanery for Kent, Surrey and Sussex, Lifelong Learning UK, the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the Learning and Skills Council in Kent and Medway, the University Vocational Awards Council and Higher Education South East.
Richard Price
Richard Price
Richard Price, a chartered accountant, was co-founder of the BPP group, which comprises BPP University and a range of publishing and professional training businesses.
Following his retirement as BPP's chairman in 2002, Richard's principal business role was as chairman of awarding body EDI plc until its acquisition in 2011 by Pearson.
Richard Price is chairman of the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM). He sings in, and is a former chairman of, The Bach Choir. In 2015 he was awarded an honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Music following his retirement as a council member. He is vice-president and a former chairman of Action Medical Research.
Richard and his wife Susan have two grown-up children and four grandchildren. Their shared interests include music, golf, walking and bridge. Although their principal home is in London, they are able to spend some leisure time in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.
Valerie Todd CBE FCIPD
Valerie Todd CBE FCIPD
Valerie is a non-executive member of the Executive Committee of the Army Board. She has recently stepped down as the Talent & Resources Director at Crossrail Ltd where she was responsible for ensuring the project has the right people, in the right place at the right time. Prior to this Valerie was the managing director of group services at Transport for London.
Valerie chaired Investors in People from 2010 to 2018 and was instrumental in leading the UK’s premier brand for people management through a period of growth change and renewal.
She has also been a governor and board member at the University of West London and a trustee of the London transport Museum.
Between 2007 and 2016 she served as a government advisor on skills and employment as a Commissioner to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
Valerie has a BA (Hons) Degree, a MBA and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of the University of Derby.
Valerie was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to skills, employment and the development of young people.
Sally Dicketts CBE
Sally Dicketts has held senior posts in both secondary schools and further education. She became Principal at Milton Keynes College in 1996, and in 2003 became the first Principal of Oxford & Cherwell Valley College.
In 2010, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College took over the responsibility for running Reading College and in 2013 set up a UTC in Reading. In 2013 she became the first Chief Executive of Activate Learning, bringing together in one group, three FE Colleges (Banbury & Bicester College, City of Oxford College and Reading College), three UTC’s (UTC Reading, UTC Oxfordshire and UTC Swindon), two 11-18 secondary schools, a studio school, a training provider delivering apprentices, training and consulting in the workplace and a specialist engineering training provider.
Sally is a tireless campaigner and advocate for the learning and skills sector. She is a board member of ETF, was a board member of AoC and AMiE. She chaired the Women’s leadership network and was the chair of the Employment committee of the AoC. Sally has chaired several other National committees which have ranged from Communications to the National Open College Network. She is a member of the Oxfordshire Management Club, All Souls Group and was a leading thinker for the National Education Trust. She sat for many years on the Oxfordshire LEP. Sally was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Honours list in July 2013.
Her main area of interest is in how people learn, mindfulness and how to develop more entrepreneurial innovative individuals. She enjoys travel, cycling, Zumba and spending time with her partner and daughter.
John Laramy
John Laramy is Principal and Chief Executive of Exeter College, a position he has held since the beginning of April 2016. Prior to this John had been Vice Principal at the College since 2009; his background in quality improvement has supported the College's drive for excellence which was recognised in 2014 by an Outstanding rating in a full Ofsted inspection. John has extensive experience of the full academic and vocational curriculum for 16 to 19-year olds, including A Levels, IB, BTEC qualifications, Apprenticeships and Foundation Learning. Exeter College also offers a wide range of adult and community learning, Higher Education programmes and customised courses for businesses.
John is a former BTEC student, having completed both an Ordinary National Certificate and a Higher National Certificate. He is passionate about the impact of education and feels that, as a country, we need a renewed focus on technical, applied and vocational training.
John started his career in the construction industry and after teaching Karate in his spare time decided on a change. After undertaking a full-time PGCE at the University of Greenwich in 1996, whilst teaching part-time at North West Kent College, he started as a Lecturer at North Devon College in 1997, progressing through various roles to join the Senior Management Team in 2005. John has spoken nationally on Vocational Education and Quality Improvement.
John holds an MSc in Educational Leadership from the University of Leicester and is a full corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Building. He was the founding Chair of the Exeter Specialist Maths School, and is now a corporate member of the school’s Trust. John is also a corporate member of the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust. At present the Trust oversees three secondary schools, a primary school and an all-through school.
Professor Becky Francis
Professor Becky Francis is Director of the UCL Institute of Education (IOE). She joined the IOE from King’s College London, where she was Professor of Education and Social Justice. Her previous roles include Director of Education at the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).
Becky has combined academic research and policy work in education throughout her career. She regularly serves as a consultant to the UK government and international agencies on education policy matters, and previously served as Standing Advisor to the UK Parliamentary committee responsible for scrutinising government policy on education. She is a frequent media commentator on education issues.
Executive Directors
Rod Bristow
Rod Bristow
President, Pearson UK & Global Online Learning
Rod Bristow is President, global OBL, global OPM & UK for Pearson. Core Markets include those 100+ countries with, in general, developed economies and education systems. In 2010, Rod became President for Pearson UK and was appointed to lead all other Core Markets for Pearson in January 2014. Rod has worked in education, publishing and assessment for 30 years in universities, schools, colleges, professional training and learning technologies in the UK and internationally.
He is a Trustee for the Education and Employers Taskforce, a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Governor of the BMAT Multi-Academy Trust, Governor of Harlow College and past President of the Publishers Association. He is also Chair of the judging panel for the National Teaching Awards and Honorary Group Captain RAuxAF. Rod is a graduate of University College London.
Suzi Brennan
Suzi Brennan
Senior Vice President of Finance for the Core markets
Suzi was joined Pearson in September 2016 as Senior Vice President of Finance for the Core markets. She is responsible for leading the financial organisation for the Core geography and ensuring integrity and accuracy of financial matters in accordance with Pearson policies and practices. She is a key business partner and advisor to Rod Bristow, the President of Core.
Suzi graduated from Nottingham and trained as a Chartered Accountant at Deloitte. She subsequently worked at Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Penguin Books Ltd and Clear Channel Outdoor Ltd in various financial roles, most latterly as Chief Financial Officer. In addition, Suzi was Chair of Governors for her local primary school for 7 years.
Dr Gary Gates
Dr Gary A Gates
Senior Vice President, Global Business (Pearson VUE) & UK Higher Education
Gary joined Pearson in 2011 to lead the Pearson VUE business outside North America by growing our customer base, establishing partnerships, recommending acquisitions, and collaborating with established Pearson businesses located in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, South Africa, India, China, Japan, Korea, and Australia. In January 2019, Gary extended his responsibilities at Pearson by also taking on the leadership of our UK Higher Education business.
Gary’s considerable experience launching international enterprises includes development, commercialisation, and internationalisation of innovative technology which transformed how governments and other constitutions source traffic information. He has also negotiated and established joint ventures and has won new business on a global scale. Prior to joining Pearson, he was a company director of ITIS Holdings plc and held management positions with British Nuclear Fuels Plc and British Energy. Gary received his PhD in Computational Physics from the University of Liverpool and graduated with honors from the University of York with a BSc in Theoretical Physics.
Sharon Hague
Sharon Hague
Senior Vice President, UK Schools
Sharon was appointed Senior Vice President of Schools in September 2017. She is responsible for the development and delivery of Pearson UK's portfolio of qualifications and assessments including the National Curriculum Tests contract. In addition, Sharon is responsible for the development and delivery of the services that support teaching and learning including Clinical Assessment services.
Sharon graduated from Oxford and trained as a teacher. She taught in schools in Essex and Hertfordshire for 8 years working for Edexcel as an A level examiner. Sharon joined Pearson in January 2000 and, over the past 18 years, has held a variety of posts at Pearson.
Cindy Rampersaud
Cindy Rampersaud
Senior Vice President, Pearson BTEC and Apprenticeship
Cindy was appointed Senior Vice President of Pearson's BTEC and Apprenticeship business unit in February 2018.
She is responsible for Pearson UK'sportfolio of technical, vocational and apprenticeship qualifications delivered by Colleges, Private Training Providers and Employers
Cindy moved into the education sector in 2011 when she took up the role of Deputy Principal at City and Islington College.
In 2016 she was appointed a Deputy FE Commissioner by the Department for Education working on the Government's Area Based Review of the Further Education sector nationally.
Before moving into the education sector Cindy held a number of senior roles in the commercial sector including EMI, Warner Brothers and Virgin.
Cindy currently sits on the Board of The Children’s Society and Speakers Trust.
Derek Richardson
Derek Richardson
Vice President and Senior Responsible Officer, Pearson UK
Derek was appointed Vice President and Senior Responsible Officer of Pearson UK in September 2017.
He is accountable for the successful delivery of qualifications both in the UK and internationally. He is Pearson's designated Responsible Officer to Ofqual, CCEA, Qualification Wales and SQA in relation to compliance with our conditions of recognition as an awarding organisation.
Derek has degrees from Teesside and Sussex Universities and his background over the last 18 years has been in educational assessment.
He started work in Edexcel’s A level English team as the curriculum 2000 reforms were being introduced and also holds a post as school governor.
He has held various posts within Pearson, most recently as Director for Qualification Development, Assessment & Awarding across GCSEs, A Levels, BTEC, Apprenticeships and International qualifications.
