Experience

Mind Tools

• India
• Education Administration Programs

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Aug 2023 - Present

  Mind Tools (formerly Emerald Works; c.100+ staff) is a leading authority in career and skills development, inspiring 24 million learners in 160 countries with enterprise and consumer focused on-demand digital learning tools and resources. Mind Tools was previously owned by Emerald Publishing and formed via the acquisition and integration of 3 separate companies - GoodPractice, Towards Maturity and Mind Tools, with the mission of empowering people to thrive in their careers via the provision of high-quality reskilling and upskilling solutions and services. Mind Tools is owned by Cambridge Information Group (CIG), a New York based mission-led family office with a history of long-term investments in education, information and software companies such as Clarivate Analytics, Emerald Publishing, Sotheby's Institute of Art etc. As a result of the acquisition of Emerald Group by CIG in 2022, Emerald Works was rebranded and spun out as Mind Tools. Customers include NHS, Apple, Astra Zeneca, BBC, Accenture, Burberry, Citigroup, Rolls Royce, Tata Steel etc. Show less


Mind Tools for Business
• United Kingdom
• E-Learning Providers
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Chief Executive Officer

  • Aug 2023 - Present


Training Qualifications UK

• United Kingdom
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Chair

  • Jan 2023 - Jul 2023

  Awarding Organisation focused on qualifications in the Teaching and Learning, Health and Safety, Food Safety and First Aid sectors Awarding Organisation focused on qualifications in the Teaching and Learning, Health and Safety, Food Safety and First Aid sectors



AlphaPlus

• United Kingdom
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Director

  • Jan 2022 - Jul 2023

  Education services business that specialises in standards, assessment and certification Education services business that specialises in standards, assessment and certification



AQA

• United States
• Technology, Information and Internet

• Executive Director, Strategy & Business Development

  • Feb 2021 - Jul 2023

  Member of executive leadership team with responsibility for driving AQA's strategy, overseeing implementation and developing new strategic commercial opportunities, which include mergers & acquisitions, new assessment products and services, new markets/customer segments, technology alliances, joint ventures and domestic/international government tenders and bids. Particular focus on diversification and digital transformation.Successfully diversified AQA’s revenue by conceptualising and launching 3 new global lines of business - AQA Global Assessment Services, AQA Formative Assessment and AQA Vocational & Technical Qualifications via the identification, leadership and completion of 5 anchor acquisitions (within 15 months) and accompanying organic initiatives. These diversified businesses are forecast to constitute 20-30% of AQA revenue in the next 2 years. Conceptualised and spearheaded AQA's On-screen Assessment programme, its new commercial services proposition, its flagship formative assessment proposition, its new Early Careers programme and the revamped Unlocking Potential Programme. Show less

• Board Trustee & Non-Executive Director

  • Dec 2019 - Jan 2021

  AQA is the largest school exam board in the UK setting and marking more than half the GCSEs and A-Levels taken in the UK every year. It also offers a range of qualifications specifically designed for international British curriculum schools through its joint venture with Oxford University Press. In addition to governance responsibilities, I also sit on the finance committee.



edscale.io

• United Kingdom
• Education Administration Programs

• Managing Director

  • 2018 - 2021

  Growth advisory and strategic transformation services to global education companies, edtech start/scale-ups and private investors. Recent clients/projects include: 1. Advising an independent centre of Oxford University in the development and commercialisation (B2C, B2B2C) of its online courses. 2. Advising a deep-tech scale-up that uses AI, NLP and behavioural analytics to improve work-based communication, career progression, employability and interpersonal skills. 3. Advising an AI start-up which leverages the synergy between diagnostic assessment, intervention and data to provide K12 literacy intervention solutions globally. This consulting practice has now ceased trading. Show less



Discovery Education

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Senior Consultant

  • Apr 2019 - Oct 2019

  Development and initial implementation of a business plan to extend Discovery's K12 footprint in a critical, high-growth, international segment with significant recurring revenue potential. This included development of international product strategy, strategic partnerships, SaaS based pricing, initial operating model, recruitment assistance and sales coaching. Conceptualised and helped put in place an initial channel partner ecosystem with substantial multi-year committed revenue. Development and initial implementation of a business plan to extend Discovery's K12 footprint in a critical, high-growth, international segment with significant recurring revenue potential. This included development of international product strategy, strategic partnerships, SaaS based pricing, initial operating model, recruitment assistance and sales coaching. Conceptualised and helped put in place an initial channel partner ecosystem with substantial multi-year committed revenue.



University of Cambridge

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Consultant

  • 2018 - 2019

  Led a project team of senior business and product directors (70+ people) across Cambridge University Press and Cambridge Assessment to develop joint SaaS formative assessment propositions (K12 & ELT) with step-change revenue potential. This project was identified as a key growth initiative for Cambridge and was sponsored by the CEOs of both Cambridge Assessment and Cambridge University Press. These propositions were successfully presented to the joint Press & Assessment Board and are now being developed by the relevant business units. Additionally, also provided adhoc strategic advisory and acquisition related support. Show less



EC Group of Language Schools

• Executive Vice President - Digital Learning Division

  • 2016 - 2017

  Developed, launched and monetised a unique blended learning program, the first of its kind in the English language travel industry. Targeted at working professionals and university students in international markets, this program integrates self-paced online adaptive instruction, live virtual tutoring and in-person face-to-face instruction within a single SaaS learning environment. Headquartered in Malta, EC is a global company that provides English Language Teaching to over 45,000 students from 140 countries via 24 schools across 5 countries (UK, US, Canada, Malta & South Africa). Show less



Knowledgemotion

• United Kingdom
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution

• Board Advisor

  • 2016 - 2017

  Knowledgemotion's video platform - boclips - makes it easy for education publishers and service providers to find, license and use video from some of the most respected content producers on the planet. The platform currently holds over 1.7m rights cleared clips from the BBC, Bloomberg, Getty, Associated Press and others that have been tagged to curriculum and can be surfaced by key stage, subject and topic. Knowledgemotion's video platform - boclips - makes it easy for education publishers and service providers to find, license and use video from some of the most respected content producers on the planet. The platform currently holds over 1.7m rights cleared clips from the BBC, Bloomberg, Getty, Associated Press and others that have been tagged to curriculum and can be surfaced by key stage, subject and topic.



Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

• United States
• E-Learning Providers
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President & General Manager - EMEA & Indian Sub-Continent

  • 2012 - 2015

  P&L responsibility for Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Indian Sub-Continent. Additional responsibility for Strategic Alliances for this region with a primary focus on developing relationships with the world’s leading technology companies as well as with next generation education technology start-ups — to ensure that HMH’s K12 digital courseware is available to Ministries of Education, public/private school systems and consumers across multiple geographies, platforms, channels and devices. Stabilised a highly volatile region, grew revenue by 30% (against y-o-y market growth of only 3%) and built a high-performing international team. Effectively penetrated the international market with education software and services. Grew select high-performing markets such as Europe, Middle East and India by 40% y-o-y. Show less



Macmillan

• United States
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Head of Strategy, CEO's Office

  • 2010 - 2013

  Strategy development, business diagnosis, innovation management, new venture development, international expansion and deal evaluation for Macmillan Group. Brands/Divisions include Macmillan Education (K12, ELT, Higher Education), Nature Publishing Group, Nature Education, Palgrave Macmillan, Picador, Pan Macmillan, Scientific American, Digital Science and Digital Education Strategy development, business diagnosis, innovation management, new venture development, international expansion and deal evaluation for Macmillan Group. Brands/Divisions include Macmillan Education (K12, ELT, Higher Education), Nature Publishing Group, Nature Education, Palgrave Macmillan, Picador, Pan Macmillan, Scientific American, Digital Science and Digital Education



LexisNexis

• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Director, Strategy & Business Development - International

  • 2007 - 2010

  Executive Development Rotation Program followed by strategy and business development for LexisNexis International (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Canada, Pacific) legal software and solutions offering. Executive Development Rotation Program followed by strategy and business development for LexisNexis International (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Canada, Pacific) legal software and solutions offering.


Tata Consultancy Services
• India
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 700 & Above Employee
• Consultant

  • 2007 - 2007

British American Tobacco (Technology Division)
• Consultant (MBA Internship)

  • 2006 - 2006


PricewaterhouseCoopers

• 1 - 100 Employee

• Manager, Tax & Regulatory Services

  • 2000 - 2005

  Tax Advisory, Litigation and Compliance Tax Advisory, Litigation and Compliance



Tax and Audit Training

• Associate/Manager

  • 1994 - 1999

  A.F. Ferguson & Company, Chartered Accountants (now part of Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP) P.D. Saraf & Company, Chartered Accountants A.F. Ferguson & Company, Chartered Accountants (now part of Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP) P.D. Saraf & Company, Chartered Accountants