UKEC, UK. Deaglan McArdle has been appointed to the position of head of partnerships and overseas market operations at UKEC. Since joining in 2022, his vast experience of 18 years working within the industry has been central to helping the company develop new recruitment strategies with partners and grow student recruitment markets internationally. This role will see Deaglan taking the strategic lead on the growth of UKEC outside of the UK, including the development of new recruitment markets for students; and collaborating with partners to develop integrated individual recruitment plans aimed at continuing the diversification of students. He will lead on the international marketing strategies, and office expansion globally too. Speaking of his new role he said: “I love being part of the team at UKEC, and am extremely excited about this next step within the company. The company values and ethos mean a lot to me, our partners and our students. We have been operating and innovating for 24 years, and yet I feel as if we are just getting started!”

University of Salford Business School, UK. University of Salford Business School has announced the appointment of Dr Gordon Fletcher as its new associate dean: research and innovation. Gordon holds a PhD from Griffith University in Cultural Studies and his research predominantly focuses on digital business, digital transformation, innovation, change and information systems. Having served as the director of marketing since 2006 and the director of business 4.0 since 2019, his experience uniquely positions him for this leadership role. His research has consistently focused on the intersection of digital business, culture, and practice. His published works explore a diverse range of subjects including online finance community conflicts, virtual game world economies, and online grieving practices. Gordon said: “The time I’ve spent at the University of Salford is now a significant part of my professional career that has already been filled with the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences. No day is ever the same, and our community, our students, and colleagues never fail to surprise, entertain and teach me new things on a regular basis.”

THINK Global School, US. Andy Wood has been appointed the new principal of THINK Global School. Andy brings a wealth of international experience to the role, having led schools in Dubai, Cape Town, and the Bahamas during his seventeen-year career. He joins following his time as the founding principal of Green School South Africa, a pioneering institution recognised for its forward-thinking, child-centred education delivered through a sustainability lens. As the new head of school, Andy strikes a balance between robust experience, innovative practices, and a readiness to tackle the exciting challenge of guiding THINK Global School through its next phase of development. Commenting on his new role, Andy shared: “I am excited to lead a school that is innovative and bold in its thinking and seeks to inspire its students to think ambitiously about how they will make the world a better place.”

Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. Rebecca Lever has recently been appointed as director of marketing, communications and student recruitment at Cardiff Metropolitan University, in Wales in the UK. Rebecca has worked in UK higher education since 2003, with 14 years at the University of South Wales, followed by six years at Swansea University, holding the role of interim director of marketing, recruitment and international for the last year. Previous positions include associate director for marketing and student recruitment at Swansea, and digital marketing manager at USW. Rebecca’s passions are brand, digital and producing storytelling content, particularly for international and UK student recruitment campaigns. Rebecca said of her new role: “I’m delighted to be joining such a dynamic university, and l look forward to working with new colleagues to tell the next part of the CMU story.”

Oxford International Education Group, UK. Brian Blake, president of George State University, has been appointed to Oxford International Education Group’s advisory board. His expertise will be invaluable as he joins other industry leaders in advising OIEG on its strategic direction in the region. With 26 years in academic faculty positions across the US, Dr. Blake brings extensive experience in teaching, research and administration to the position. In his current role, Brian leads one of the most ethnically and socioeconomically diverse research universities in the United States. His leadership spans 6 campuses and a community of nearly 53,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff members. Brian said of his new appointment: “With my own institution’s current strategic focus on enhancing our pathways and offering opportunities to students from all corners of the globe, serving in partnership on OIEG’s advisory board is ideal. I look forward to working alongside OIEG as they continue to forge pathways for student success throughout North America making education more accessible and institutions more diverse.”

LSE IDEAS, UK. Ivan Lidarev has been named the 2023/24 Mladena and Dianko Sotirov visiting fellow at LSE IDEAS, The London School of Economics’ foreign policy think tank. He recently completed his PhD at Kings College London in International Relations and Political Science. Ivan received his MA in International Affairs, with a concentration in Asia, from the Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA), George Washington University and BA in History, Asian Studies and Global and International Studies from Bard College. He boasts a rich think tank experience and between 2014 and 2017, served as advisor at Bulgaria’s National Assembly. Of his new role, he said: “I am very excited to be selected for the Sotirov fellowship and grateful to LSE IDEAS and the Sotirov family. For me, this is a great opportunity to research an important but often underappreciated topic in the intellectually stimulating environment of LSE IDEAS.’’

Goodnotes, Global. Daniel Emmerson has been appointed as the academic affairs lead at Goodnotes. Daniel worked in the UK independent sector for 14 years – his work has always been guided by the impact that he can have on providing young people form diverse backgrounds with opportunities to create, collaborate and learn from each other. He sees cross-cultural collaboration as an essential skill that school communities need to focus on, and through working with international schools and recruitment partners across 40 countries around the world, he was able to achieve this for over 4,000 students during his tenure at Felsted School. At GoodNotes, Daniel is responsible for exploring the impact that artificial intelligence is having on education today and will continue to have in the future. He is currently collaborating with practitioners, experts, educators and students from all over the world, analysing everything from homework and assessment to the impact of AI on global education, life and work beyond school.

Global American University, Global. The Global American University, Schiller has appointed Sanja Stevic as its new
campus director in Germany. Sanja has previously held several senior roles at The Global American University, Schiller, for the last decade.Sanja very much looks forward to her new role and is committed to providing new impulses for the current and future orientation of the Schiller International University in Heidelberg Campus. She will head the university’s administration, providing leadership across all levels and be responsible for business development and corporate relations. Of her new role, she said: “Together with my dedicated and diverse team of employees, faculty and our partners, we will ensure that we offer study and further education programs that enable young people to be prepared for the challenges of a complex professional world and to face the future with knowledge, values and a global mindset.”

University of Southampton, UK. Zoë Marlow has joined the University of Southampton as its new associate director of TNE. With 20 years experience in the field of international education, Zoë is returning to work in higher education recruitment after a year at Virtual Internships as its head of international partnership development. She previously spent six years at Sannam S4, where she was head of client relations, and has experience as a freelance education consultant. On LinkedIn, Zoë posted about her new role, saying: “After a fascinating ‘year abroad’ in edtech with the fabulous Virtual Internships team, I am so excited to return ‘home’ to higher ed helping to deliver an ambitious TNE agenda at the University of Southampton.Higher ed friends and colleagues, I look forward to seeing you at a luggage carousel soon!”

Higher Education Marketing, Global. Mackenzie Zak has been appointed as a client representative by Higher Education Marketing. With more than seven years of experience in the education sector, Mackenzie is a leader in advocating for education and positively impacting the field. Mackenzie’s expertise lies in consulting institutions and recruitment partners to develop sustainable international strategies and solutions. Her passion for helping others expand their horizons shines through in her work, and she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure success for her clients and partners. Speaking on LinkedIn, she said it has been “so exciting learning from my new coworkers who are true experets in digital marketing”. Mackenzie continued: “Very excited to continue to expand my horizons, as well as helping my partners and friends in the industry expand theirs. Student recruitment done the right way has always been a passion of mine, and I’m thrilled to be working with a company that aligns with those same values!”

Forward College, Europe. Phil Allmendinger is the newly appointed chief academic officer at Forward College. Previously he was deputy vice chancellor at the University of Bath and prior to that professor of land economy at the University of Cambridge, where he was also dean of humanities and social Sciences. Phil will lead on the delivery of the College’s teaching, learning and research across its three campuses whilst also helping develop the strategy for growth in Europe and beyond. Phil said the role will be opportunity to build something new and different in higher education for students and academics: “The Forward model is one where students combine their undergraduate degrees with a fully international experience across three cities, real-life projects, and a personal development programme. The aim is to empower the next generation of students with the relevant skills, knowledge, and mindset to shape global challenges, to create leaders who are able not only to understand complex challenges and opportunities but also to reach out to and engage people across different fields of expertise, cultures, and social backgrounds for a shared purpose.”

Forward College, Europe. Spencer has joined Forward College as the founding campus manager for its new location in Berlin. He joins the dynamic start-up university after more than ten years of varied experience in international higher education, leadership development, and global mobility. Spencer got his start with the University of Cincinnati as an intern at the Beijing rep office then opened the rep office in Ho Chi Minh City. He then moved to Germany and researched business models for international education disruption as an MBA student before launching the Berlin campus for the Grenoble Ecole de Management at GISMA Business School. Afterwards, he shifted gears to managing leadership developing programs in the corporate sector and training coaches. Now, Spencer is excited to return to the international higher education sector as Forward College’s first undergraduate students are bound for Germany’s capital this fall. “I am excited to be joining the innovative team at Forward College and bringing together the community of its pioneering first cohort, academic fellows, and leaders of the robust local start-up scene.”

BridgeU, Global. BridgeU has announced that it is appointing Patrick Whitfield as its new chief commercial officer. Patrick joins BridgeU having served as CCO at Adventus since 2021. Patrick also brings a wealth of experience from his work with other globally recognised international education and student recruitment companies. Patrick’s career in international education spans over 11 years and includes sales and leadership positions at Hobsons and QS Enrolment Solutions. More recently Patrick was group commercial director at IDP Connect, where he was responsible for IDP’s university go-to-market strategy across multiple regions and revenue lines. Commenting on this next step in his career, Patrick said: “I am thrilled to be joining BridgeU at such an exciting time for the company. International recruitment strategies for globally minded universities need to focus on efficiency, diversity and sustainability; establishing a data-driven approach to undergraduate recruitment is absolutely fundamental to this and I am excited to help build the next generation of solutions for BridgeU to lead the way in this space.”

Universities Canada, Canada. Universities Canada has announced that Philip Landon is assuming the role of interim president and CEO. Former president and CEO, Paul Davidson, informed the membership earlier this year that he would be leaving the role at the end of June, after leading the organisation for fourteen years. Having served as chief operating officer for the organisation since 2020, and with over 30 years’ experience in the education, international development and post-secondary sectors, Philip is well-suited to lead the organisation with the support of its strong, diverse and dynamic senior leadership team. “Canada’s universities have benefitted tremendously from Paul’s exceptional vision, leadership and drive,” said Meric Gertler, president of the University of Toronto and Universities Canada’s board chair. “Paul leaves behind an outstanding record of accomplishment that will benefit students, researchers and Canadians for years to come.”

American University, US. Tashina has been appointed the director of international partnerships and strategic initiatives for American University. Before joining AU, she spent the past 14 years working in France with the Kedge Business School Group. In her most recent position, she served as the director of international operations and relations piloting the Group’s international relations and operations and managing their global partnerships and academic programing. Before working with the Group, she began her career in West Africa working for inter-governmental agencies and NGOs, managing programs in electoral reform, development, and peace activities. Throughout her career, Tashina has gained extensive experience and expertise in intercultural communication, student mobility, international recruitment, and campus internalization. Outside of her scholarship and work, she is deeply committed to sustainability and served 10 years as the President of the Calanaques National Park’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council.

Kaplan International Pathways, Global.  Hannah Drover recently relocated from Melbourne to Vancouver Island, Canada, and from her new base she provides a senior level of executive support on the ground for Kaplan’s new partners and ventures in the region, working closely with colleagues in the UK, USA, and Australia. Hannah has been with Kaplan since late 2019, working across a range of strategic priorities for both the ANZ and global businesses. Some of these include university partnerships, conversion and retention programs, employability and student career outcomes, and overseeing Kaplan’s collaboration with charity Kindness Factory. Hannah said of life on Vancouver Island “I feel incredibly lucky to not only be able to live in such a beautiful part of the world, but to be on the ground working arm in arm with partners to create some really exciting opportunities for students from all around the world.” Prior to joining Kaplan, Hannah oversaw an internship business that placed upward of 7,000 international students into internships every year in organisations all over Australia.

Freepik Company, Global. Tech outfit Freepik Company announced the appointment of Jose Florido as chief market development officer, US, effective immediately, and the opening of its first U.S. office located in San Francisco. The announcement comes on the heels of a period of growth for the business, with Freepik Company reaching $87M in revenue in 2022, a 25% year-over-year (YoY) spike, driven by reaching over 100 million users. Florido brings significant growth and design expertise to Freepik Company and will lead the market strategy for US expansion to broaden the presence in this key region. In his new role, Florido will focus on the growth of the flagship product, Freepik, the largest platform of photos, videos, vector images, illustrations and PSD files. “This is an exciting time for Freepik Company in the US, and I am excited to hit the ground running. The organisation has an impressive track record overseas and is recognised as the creative marketplace, bringing the highest quality of relevant graphics to the fore.  I am looking forward to working with the U.S. team to continue to bring that same excellence on a larger scale to the region.”

MSquareMedia, Global. Raghwa Gopal has joined MSM as its new CEO. He joins from Innovate BC, where he was president and CEO. He has also had the head position at Accelerate Okanagan, where he was instrumental in the creation and management of successful programs for technology companies at all stages of growth. He serves on the boards of multiple organisations including the University of British Columbia, India Canada Innovation Council, Women’s Enterprise Centre, Central Okanagan Economic Development, and the Province of BC’s Emerging Economy Task Force and Food Security Task Force. Gopal is a serial entrepreneur who has extensive experience starting, growing, and selling numerous businesses. A graduate of New Zealand’s Central Institute of Technology in information technology, Raghwa has also received degrees in computer science from Australia’s Collier MacMillan School and the University of the South Pacific. In addition to his corporate experience, Gopal has lectured in the Faculty of Management (Business) at UBC Okanagan and the School of Arts and Sciences (Computer Science) and has been an entrepreneur-in-residence at Okanagan College School of Business.

TWIN Group, UK. Peter Hudson has joined TWIN Group as its new group marketing and communications director. Peter has more than 25 years of marketing experience, both B2C and B2B, from the academic publishing and education sectors, including secondary, further, and higher education. He has managed teams across the UK, Europe, and Middle East markets, and always seeks to inspire creative teams to deliver high quality multi-channel marketing, communications, and lead-generating campaigns, whilst also driving brand value, reputation, and profile among key stakeholders. Peter said of his new role: “I’m thrilled to have joined TWIN Group. Client success is very important to me, and at TWIN I see a company dedicated to growing opportunity for all its customers, including students, those seeking employment, and valued partners. I’m keen to raise awareness so more people can discover and benefit from the unique TWIN offer.”

Globeducate, Global. Cristina Gómez de Luque joined Globeducate as human resources director of Spain and Andorra in 2020, and has now taken on the role of chief human resources officer. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she has been an instrumental figure in the team due to her hard work, dedication, and commitment to employees and organisational success. She has displayed a remarkable ability to navigate complex HR challenges, implementing effective strategies that foster employee attraction, development, and satisfaction. Prior to joining Globeducate, Cristina held senior management and director-level positions with global brands such as Burger King, Sephora and UNOde50. With her extensive knowledge and experience, in her role as chief Human Resources Officer for Globeducate, Cristina now leads the organisation’s HR strategy.