Deputy Group CEO and Group Chief Financial Officer

John is an experienced senior leader with a passion for education and the benefits it can derive. John joined the College in 2013 as Vice Principal of Finance and Resources before progressing to the role of Group Chief Financial Officer and, subsequently, Deputy Group CEO.

He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and started his accountancy career in manufacturing before spending ten years working in forensics. He moved into senior finance roles within the education sector in 2007 and has also spent five years working as a part-time lecturer at a Further Education College.

Having helped Sam Parrett set up London South East Academies Trust in 2013, he has worked tirelessly to enable and support its growth and success into the business it is today, transforming the lives of its pupils.

John has developed considerable knowledge and experience as a senior leader in the Academies, Further Education and Charity sectors. He has a wealth of experience in mergers, including leading through periods of change and implementing significant business and financial improvements. He is also experienced in scaling systems and professional services and ensuring they deliver continuous improvement and value.

John oversees the Deputy CEO directorate within the Group, which includes a wide range of professional services covering Finance, Health and Safety, IT, Management Information Services, HR, Payroll, Marketing, and Estates. This includes responsibility for capital projects, having recently completed projects in excess of £60m, which deliver significant benefits for learners.

In 2022, John was appointed by the FE Commissioner as one of two National Leaders of Further Education — Finance Specialist. Through this appointment, John works with the FE Commissioner Team to support a range of further education providers across the country.