AMMAN ACADEMY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chairman of IMG Academy
- Chief Executive Officer of Nord Anglia Education
Andrew Fitzmaurice is Chief Executive Officer of Nord Anglia Education. Following his appointment as CEO in 2003, Nord Anglia has established itself as the world's leading international schools organisation.
Under Andrew's leadership, Nord Anglia provides personalised learning to c.90,000 students aged 3-18 years old in independent day and boarding schools. Nord Anglia's schools are located in 30+ countries across Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Europe.
Andrew graduated from the University of Wales Cardiff, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in Economics. He also holds a master's degree in international education from King's College.
In August 2023, Andrew was appointed Chairman of IMG Academy, the global sports education brand. As Chairman, Andrew also oversees IMG Academy's global collaboration with Nord Anglia which provides a wellbeing programme for the international schools organisation's students and colleagues.
Prior to Nord Anglia, Andrew held a number of executive appointments across different sectors.
Job Titles:
- Regional Managing Director, Europe
Brian Cooklin is Regional Managing Director, Europe at Nord Anglia Education.
Previously the Founding Principal of the Nord Anglia International School in Hong Kong, Brian has also been the Principal of a British International school in Mexico City and of a school in his home country of Scotland.
Brian graduated from Glasgow University with a Master's degree in History and English and obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, as well as various other diplomas and certificates.
In a teaching career of over 40 years, 25 of those spent as Principal, he was also elected as President of the Headteachers' Association of Scotland, School Leaders Scotland and served on the UCAS Advisory Board. Brian was also a member of various educational working parties for the UK and Scottish governments. In addition, Brian has led various EU education projects and was a Council member of the International Confederation of Principals.
Brian is a popular conference speaker and workshop trainer as well as the author of many articles for Education journals and publications. A keen public speaker and debater, his other claim to fame was appearing as a contestant on BBC's Mastermind quiz programme.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director - Head of Expeditions
David Wall is Assistant Director - Head of Expeditions.
Job Titles:
- Chief Education Officer
- Nord Anglia Education 's Chief Education Officer
Dr Elise Ecoff is the Chief Education Officer of Nord Anglia Education.
Dr Elise Ecoff is Nord Anglia Education's Chief Education Officer. Under her leadership, the Education Team ensure that our schools' educational practice, curricula and programmes are second to none. Comprised of senior education experts, the team drives a research-led approach to educational excellence. In addition to providing specialist support to our principals and teachers, they lead best practice and continuous improvement programmes informed by the latest thinking in teaching and learning, ensuring our schools offer the finest educational experience.
Prior to taking up this role in 2020, Elise was Principal at North Broward Preparatory School from 2012 where she had served since 2004 as a division leader, curriculum specialist, and Assistant Head of School. She also spent fifteen years working in Broward County Public Schools in Florida.
Serving more than 34 years in education in teaching and leadership roles has enabled Elise to learn much from students, families, teachers, and education experts. Her time leading schools fulfilled a lifelong dream and taught her more than she expected about the power of education, and the many and various ways learning empowers.
Elise is also committed to helping schools on their continuous improvement journey and as such spent four years as a member of the board of directors of the Florida Council of Independent Schools.
As the founder of MNT2LEAD, a website designed to serve as a ‘digital mentor,' Elise strives to build community and pathways for aspiring female educational leaders.
Elise holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lynn University, a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Special Education and certification in ESOL, from Florida International University.
Job Titles:
- High School Director
- Senior Programme Lead for Social Impact and Giving
Dr Leslie Williams is Senior Programme Lead for Social Impact and Giving at Nord Anglia Education.
Dr Leslie Williams began her career in education in 2002 as an English teacher in both public and private schools before transitioning into the role of High School Director at Windermere Preparatory School in August 2013.
During the summer of 2020, whilst High School Director, Leslie became the NAE Chairperson for Global the Equality Programme's Steering Committee, which was responsible for creating an EDI Policy and an EDI Vision with key organisational goals. She continues to lead the organisation's efforts in ensuring everyone understands their role in creating inclusive environments that instill a sense of belonging in each community member.
In July 2022, Leslie began her role as the Senior Programme Lead for Social Impact and Giving which focuses on the NAE collaboration with UNICEF, Social Impact Grants, and Student Leadership. Through this role, she aims to connect with schools and to connect schools with one another as they work through the UN Sustainable Development Goals and student leadership opportunities.
Job Titles:
- Regional Managing Director, China International Schools
Terry Creissen is Regional Managing Director, China International for Nord Anglia Education
He has more than 25 years of experience as an Executive Principal, 13 years of which were spent in the UK where he was a respected educational leader and, alongside his school role, he ran specialist leadership and teacher training programmes.
Dr Creissen has mentored many new Principals joining Nord Anglia Education and supported the development of the organisation's schools in the Middle East and China Bilingual regions.
George Ghantous is the Chief Operating Officer of Nord Anglia Education.
He started his working career in 1993 as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, followed by a successful career in the construction industry. In 2006, George moved to a career in investment banking/Private Equity across the Middle East and Southeast Asia markets. In October 2013, George joined Nord Anglia Education as Regional Managing Director for the Middle East & Southeast Asia followed by a brief stint as Regional Managing Director for North America. George is also a member of Nord Anglia's Executive Committee and has been since 2013. He holds an Executive MA in International Education from King's College London. Outside of work, George has a keen interest in coaching and was a Board Member of Dubai Little League, a non-profit organisation teaching kids the game of baseball.
Job Titles:
- Director of Quality and Professional Development
- Is Director of Quality and Professional Development
Inderjit Dehal is Director of Quality and Professional Development.
Inderjit's rich career has encompassed senior roles in local and central government, the third sector and the UK's Academies programme. Inderjit spent 12 years at the Department for Education, the majority as a Senior Civil Servant, where he occupied a number of high profiles roles. These included leading the London Challenge, which has been widely regarded as one of the most effective Education Development programmes delivered in the UK. He led the expansion of the London Challenge, through the City Challenge, to over one third of English schools with a similar positive impact.
He also led the development and delivery of the first national strategy to target the raising of attainment of Black and minority ethnic students in English state schools.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Education Technology for Nord Anglia Education
- Assistant Director, Education Technology
Jacob Rosch is Assistant Director of Education Technology at Nord Anglia Education
Jacob Rosch is the Assistant Director of Education Technology for Nord Anglia Education. He is passionate about using technology to enhance learning experiences for students.
Job Titles:
- Group Head of Communications
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Professional Development
Jenny McWalter is Assistant Director, Professional Development.
Jenny joined Nord Anglia Education in July 2015 with over a decade of experience in education and is currently the Assistant Director, Professional Development. She has previously managed Nord Anglia's Global Campus along with our collaborations with The Juilliard School and UNICEF.
Her career has included senior roles leading local, regional and national school improvement programmes in the UK. Before joining Nord Anglia Education as Assistant Director of Student Services, Jenny led school improvement in Academy Trusts, where she was responsible for developing and delivering strategies to turn around historically underperforming schools. Prior to these roles, Jenny spent nine years working in the Department for Education leading key initiatives. Jenny was the Head of the Greater Manchester Challenge, which helped to significantly increase the number of outstanding schools in the region, and led key elements of the London Challenge. Jenny played a key role in expanding the London Challenge to the Three City Challenges, and the National Challenge.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, China Bilingual
- Independent Business Consultant
Jian Tang is Chairman, China Bilingual, at Nord Anglia Education
The founding member of the British International School Shanghai (BISS), Jian has commissioned, opened and provided strong operational management for each school opened in the region.
Previously, Jian has worked as an independent business consultant and as China Desk Manager for Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland. Jian has a BA in management studies and an MA in industrial economics.
Job Titles:
- Regional Managing Director, the Americas
John McCall is Regional Managing Director, the Americas at Nord Anglia Education.
Job Titles:
- Advisor, Southeast Asia and Middle East
Jerome de Meyer is Advisor for SEAME and non-executive Chairman of Nord Anglia Switzerland.
Jérôme de Meyer is an advisor on boarding and out-of-classroom activities and the non-executive Chairman of Nord Anglia Switzerland.
After completing a Master's Degree in Business and Economics at the University of St Gall in Switzerland and becoming an officer in the Swiss Army, Jérôme started his career with Swissair as a Marketing Director.
In 1991, he succeeded his father and became the third generation of the family to own and run the Collège Beau Soleil, in Villars sur Ollon, Switzerland. In 1995, Jérôme started the foundation "le Solstice" which helps close to 1,200 children all around the world to have access to free education.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Advisory Board
- Chairman of Atticus Education
- Chairman of the Education Advisory Board
Lord David Puttnam is the Chair of Atticus Education, an online education company founded in 2012 that delivers audio-visual seminars to students all over the world.
In addition to this, he is a former member of the House of Lords where he pursued an active role in a variety of areas, from educational and environmental issues to digital skills.
He spent thirty years as an independent producer of award-winning films including The Mission, The Killing Fields, Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express, Bugsy Malone and Local Hero. Together these films have won ten Oscars, ten golden globes, twenty-five Baftas and the Palme D'Or at Cannes.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Jim Knight works in education, digital technology and as a legislator. He is the Chief Education Adviser at Tes Global Ltd, advising on key strategic partnerships. He founded Tes Institute in 2014, which is now the fifth largest qualifier of teachers in England; he has also managed Tes Resources, a global teacher community of 13.5 million users. Jim is a founder of XRapid, using artificial intelligence to power the diagnosis of malaria and asbestos fibres using iPads and microscopy.
As a UK government minister his portfolios included rural affairs, schools, digital and employment. He was a member of Gordon Brown's Cabinet 2009-2010, before joining the Lords after the 2010 General Election. He is also Honorary President of COBIS, on the Global Advisory Council for BETT, Chair of Whole Education, advises the London School of Commerce and is working with the social impact agency Purpose on teaching climate change.
Patrick Watt is Chief Admissions Officer for Nord Anglia Education.
Patrick Watt joined Nord Anglia Education as Chief Admissions Officer on 1 October 2022.
Patrick has over 20 years international experience in senior commercial leadership roles. Most recently at Bupa, the global healthcare provider, he was responsible for sales and distribution for its UK and global businesses. Whilst at Bupa, Patrick led the strategic development of market leading cover for mental health and gender dysphoria, and the launch of two award winning virtual health and wellbeing propositions. Patrick has also held leadership roles at Goldman Sachs and Mercer UK.
He is a proud advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and is a founding member of the City Mental Health Alliance in London. He has chaired Business in the Community's task force on mental health and served as Board Director of Headspace Health and Mindapples, two digital businesses which help people achieve better mental health.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Glasgow.
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Corporate Development Officer
Philippe Lagger is the Chief Corporate Development Officer of Nord Anglia Education.
Philippe joined Nord Anglia Education in September 2009, initially as Managing Director of Collège Champittet in Switzerland. Since January 2010, Philippe has led the global Corporate Development function. In his role, he is responsible for growing the family of premium schools, which is done by partnering or acquiring existing schools as well as constructing new campuses.
Philippe was formerly Investment Director with private equity firm Lydian Capital, where he generated and led initiatives in the education, food and leisure sectors. He started his career in Ciba Specialty Chemicals in Switzerland and India and then became a member of the Tetra Laval Group Mergers and Acquisitions team.
Richard MG Davies is the Chief Technology Officer of Nord Anglia Education.
Richard has over 25 years of experience, across a wide range of sectors, helping organisations transform and evolve by using technology.
Richard joined from International SOS, the world's leading medical and security risk management organisation, where he was the Group CIO. Prior to that he led technology transformation programmes in the banking and logistics sectors. At DeutschePost-DHL he performed Business Unit, Regional & Global CIO roles, working in the UK, Singapore and Germany. He qualified in Electronic Engineering from the City University, London and then started his career as a software engineer for the UK Ministry of Defence before moving into consulting with the Big Four firms.
Richard is a recognised authority and frequent speaker on how to blend traditional and emerging technologies to achieve significant outcomes. His remit includes the technology that runs the organisation as well as the Education Technology in the classrooms.
Richard Seymour is the Chief Marketing Officer for Nord Anglia Education. He joined Nord Anglia in 2015 as the Group Head of Digital Marketing before being appointed Regional Director of Admissions and Marketing for China in 2018, and Europe in 2020.
Richard has over 20 years' experience in international marketing, spanning multinational organisations across education, music, media, sports and logistics sectors. He holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing Design from Southampton Solent University.
Job Titles:
- Regional Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Middle East and India
Shaun Williams is Regional Managing Director, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and India for Nord Anglia Education.
He then subsequently became the CEO of the BIS Group of School in Vietnam leading the project teams that opened three new schools between 2011 and 2013. He is now the Regional Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Middle East.
Shaun has worked in a variety of British curriculum schools during his long teaching career stretching back to 1982. This has included many years of senior management experience both in England and in international schools overseas. Between 2002 and 2005 he was Principal of Jumeirah College in Dubai and from 2005 to 2007 he held the post of CEO of Emirates Educational Holdings also in Dubai.
Shaun holds an honours degree in Biochemistry, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and the National Professional Qualification for Headship from the UK. He is also a recent past-chairman of FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia).
Ton van Vilsteren is the Chief Financial Officer of Nord Anglia Education.
Job Titles:
- Interim CHRO & Group Strategic Programmes Director
Vanessa Nicholls is interim Chief Human Resources Officer and Group Strategic Programmes Director for Nord Anglia Education.
Vanessa joined Nord Anglia in January 2023 in the newly created role of Group Strategic Programmes Director. She provides executive leadership for both the group's education digital portfolio and data insights programme. In October 2023, Vanessa was also appointed as interim Chief HR Officer (CHRO).
Prior to her 25-year career in the civil service, she worked for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children as well as within a secondary school in London. Her civil service career began in the Department for Education where she worked on programmes to support parents, children in care, and access to Higher Education. Vanessa has held various senior leadership positions in government, overseeing the delivery of major programmes on improving opportunities for young people, international partnerships, and HR and organisational performance.