Global Schools Practice Bursar Appointments Global Schools Practice, Bursar Appointments | 1 Introduction We established our Global Schools Practice in 2011 to respond to some of the challenges we had observed in the way in which the sector has traditionally appointed its leaders. We are intentionally different, and we seek to add value through our creative thinking, original research, compelling advocacy and exceptional candidate care. These are the hallmarks of Perrett Laver’s approach. We understand how to engage with candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds, how to advocate persuasively and authentically on behalf of our clients, and ultimately how to create the conditions in which the best candidates are 44% willing and able to engage meaningfully with an appointment of our appointments process. This requires considerable care, professionalism, last year were empathy and tenacity. female We are proud of our work in the global schools sector. 33% Our significant presence in the UK market has seen us appointed from advise on 20 Bursar and equivalent searches in the last two outside of the years alone, and we are increasingly partnering with sector international schools on Bursar and equivalent searches. We highlight in this brochure the ways in which we look to add value in Bursar appointments, together with our full track record and outline appointment process. Global Schools Practice, Bursar Appointments | 2 Working in Partnership We are proud of the long-term client relationships we have built over the last seven years and highlighted here are four examples of successful Bursar assignments which have resulted from – or led to – other assignments. Six of our placed Heads have returned to us to find Bursars. Over 60 per cent of the clients we have worked with in the last two years have been returning clients. WESTMINSTER SCHOOL Perrett Laver was appointed in late 2017 to support Westminster School in their search for a new Bursar. The appointee would manage the School’s relationship with Westminster Abbey, and act as a strategic partner to the Headmaster of the Great School and the Master of the Under School, as well as overseeing a considerable expansion of the School’s bursary provision and its international expansion plans. The shortlist comprised: the COO of a leading arts organisation; the COO of a major business unit for one of the world’s biggest insurance brands; the Finance Director of a learned society; a senior member of the military who had subsequently worked in the defence strategy world; a consultant who had previously been a legal COO; a retail HR Director; and the appointee, Martin Walsh, previously Director of Commercial Strategy for UCL Innovation and Enterprise. We have now been engaged to assist Westminster and their joint venture partner HKMETG to find a Founding Head for Chengdu Westminster School. Global Schools Practice, Bursar Appointments | 3 Following our successful assignment in 2016 to place We were appointed to advise Pipers Corner School in 2017 on Alexander Tate as Head of Bedford Modern School, we were the search for a new Bursar. The School sought candidates invited to partner with the Harpur Trust again in the search for who would ensure the efficient delivery of the School’s bursarial a new Bursar at Bedford School. The appointee would provide services in support of its educational aims, whilst further strong strategic, financial and operational leadership and be a diversifying income streams and harnessing the School’s proactive contributor to the wider direction of the School in the excellent resources for the benefit of the whole community. next exciting phase of its development. The shortlist comprised four candidates – three Operations The competitive shortlist of seven included an Education and Directors from the commercial world and the public sector, Services Manager from a midlands University, a Manager and one experienced Bursar. The successful candidate was from Accenture, a Finance Director from a leading medical Bob Pearce, previously Director of Operations, Medicine association, a CEO of a large multi-academy trust, an NHS Division and Deputy Director of Service Delivery at Operations Director and a Director of Finance and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Administration from a leading school in Australia. The Following this successful assignment we were invited to successful candidate was Stuart Holliday, Director of Finance partner with Pipers Corner again on the appointment of a and Administration at St Stephen’s School, Western Australia. Deputy Head Academic. We have just been engaged to renew our partnership with the Harpur Trust on the appointment of a CEO. Global Schools Practice, Bursar Appointments | 4 Following our successful assignment in 2015 to place Helen In 2015 Perrett Laver was asked to advise on the appointment Pike as the first female Master of MCS, we were invited to of a Director of Finance and Operations for Benenden School. partner with the School in identifying candidates from a The appointee would play a major strategic role in the delivery variety of environments capable of further evolving the role of of an ambitious development plan and would need to bring a Bursar and developing its relationship with the Master. substantial track record of senior leadership experience, outstanding financial management skills and high levels of The shortlist included: two international humanitarian commercial awareness charity COOs, one of whom also has a background in management consulting; the CEO of a leading conservatoire; The shortlist of six for the role comprised three school Bursars, the Director of Finance for a major publishing house; and an a school Finance Director, a COO from a leading arts internationally experienced existing school Bursar. MCS organisation and the appointee, Martin Lander, who was appointed Jason Clarke, CEO of the Conservatoire for Dance previously Senior Programme Manager at the University of and Drama. Surrey. Perrett Laver was subsequently invited to partner with Benenden on the appointment of a Director of Development. We have now been engaged to help Jason appoint a key member of his team. Global Schools Practice, Bursar Appointments | 5 We understand the nuances of the Bursar role In a rapidly changing education sector and wider economic context, we understand the critical importance of getting a Bursar appointment right for a School. Some of our recent clients have chosen to separate the role of Bursar and Clerk, while others have chosen to appoint a Chief Operating Officer and a separate Chief Financial Officer or similar. We understand the nuances of such differing briefs, and can support on organisational design consultancy, as well as on the search itself. BRADFIELD COLLEGE The search for the Bursar at Cheltenham College completed Perrett Laver is currently advising Bradfield College on at the end of the 2017. Having taken the decision to separate the appointment of a COO, the College having taken the the roles of Bursar and Clerk to the Governors, the School decision recently to promote its Finance Director into the sought a highly skilled operational leader and strategist who newly created SMT role of CFO. The appointee will offer would also be able to work well with retiring Bursar John substantial generalist leadership and management Champion, who would fulfil the role of Clerk and oversee experience gained in complex, multi-stakeholder settings. international franchising. The appointee would also be He or she will evidence outstanding strategic abilities with working with the School’s two new Heads. The shortlist the entrepreneurial mindset to drive the commercial and comprised a senior Director in the John Lewis Partnership, a philanthropic development of Bradfield. Perrett Laver has former CEO of a leading barristers’ chambers, two approached candidates with commercial, charitable, commercial CFOs, an existing Bursar and the appointee, private-sector and public-sector backgrounds. Phil Attwell, who was previously Director of Campus Services for the University of Exeter. Global Schools Practice, Bursar Appointments | 6 We think differently about where outstanding leadership can be found Many of our clients now seek Bursars without previous school experience, and we have conducted a number of searches with an explicit focus on the commercial, charitable and public sectors. CO-EDUCATIONALGORDONSTOUN BOARDING SCHOOL FOR AGES 7-18 Following our successful assignment to place Simon Reid as Having advised on the appointments of Lisa Kerr as Principal Head in 2016, we were appointed to support Christ’s Hospital and Titus Edge as Head of the Senior School in 2016, Perrett in their search for a new COO. They sought candidates explicitly Laver was invited to find a creative and highly motivated from commercial backgrounds, with a particular focus on Finance Director to ensure that Gordonstoun was able to individuals who had driven commercial and financial strategy. realise its bold ambitions to grow the international reach of its unique educational ethos. The shortlist of candidates comprised Finance Directors and Managing Directors from the commercial and health The School sought experienced financiers with high levels of sectors, a Director of Planning, Governance and Compliance commercial acumen as well as significant operational and from a leading University and the successful candidate change management experience since the post-holder would Nicholas Tesseyman, Managing Director, Financial