LIS CHENGDU - 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:
- 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:
- Group Head of Education Research and Global Partnerships
Dr Kate Erricker is Group Head of Education Research and Global Partnerships on Nord Anglia's Education team. She leads The Metacognition Project, a global research project with Boston College currently running with 27 Nord Anglia schools globally, the DELTA research project with Project Zero, and the NAE Juilliard and MIT collaborations.
Prior to joining Nord Anglia, Kate was a school improvement advisor for Hampshire Local Authority in the UK. In this role, she worked closely with teachers and leadership teams to improve outcomes in primary and secondary schools from early years to post-16.
Kate originally trained as an English teacher in the UK and has over 20 years' experience in education. She holds a PhD in teacher professional development.
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 is Nord Anglia's Senior Programme Lead for Social Impact and Giving, and Chairperson for the Global Equalities Programme.
She 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 is responsible for creating an EDIB Policy and an EDIB Vision with key organisational goals. She continues to lead the organisation's efforts in ensuring everyone understands their role in creating inclusive environments that instil a sense of belonging in each community member.
In July 2022, Leslie began her current role, which focuses on the NAE Social Impact Programme which supports 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, Child Rights through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 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:
- 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 serves as an advisor on boarding and out-of-classroom activities and is the non-executive Chairman of Nord Anglia Switzerland.
He holds a Master's Degree in Business and Economics from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland and has also completed his service as an officer in the Swiss Army. Jérôme began his professional journey with Swissair, where he worked as Marketing Director. In 1991, he took over from his father, becoming the third generation to own and lead Collège Beau Soleil in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. In 1997, he expanded his educational ventures by acquiring Collège Champittet in Pully, Switzerland, where he introduced the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Both schools are now proud members of the Nord Anglia Education group.
Professor Lily Kong is the fifth, and current, President of Singapore Management University (SMU), and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Social Sciences. The university is well sought after for the transformative opportunities students are offered within and outside the classroom, and well known for its research that strives to create impact for business, government and society.
Professor Kong is an award-winning researcher and teacher. She has received numerous international and national awards, including the Commonwealth and Fulbright Fellowship Awards, the Robert Stoddard Award from the American Association of Geographers, and the Victoria Medal from the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers. Prior to her current role at SMU, she served as its Provost, and before that was a faculty member and senior leader for nearly 25 years at the National University of Singapore. Professor Kong specialises in social-cultural and urban geography - she has published a large body of work on religion, cultural policy and the creative economy, urban heritage and conservation, and national identity. She is the first Singaporean to lead SMU, and the first woman to serve as President of any university in Singapore.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Advisory Board
- Chairman of Nord Anglia 's Education
- Chairman of the Education Advisory Board
Lord David Puttnam is Chair of Nord Anglia's Education Advisory Board. Working closely with Nord Anglia's leadership team, the Education Advisory Board supports the continuous development of Nord Anglia's programs, including professional development, safeguarding, and the progress of teaching and learning to deliver outstanding academic outcomes for its students.
Lord Puttnam is a British film producer, educator, and environmentalist. He is Chair of Atticus Education, an online education company founded in 2012 that delivers audio-visual seminars to students around the world.
Lord Puttnam is also 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. Prior to this 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.
Jim is the Non-Executive Chair of a number of education boards: E-Act Multi Academy Trust, Council of British International Schools, Century-Tech and STEM Learning Ltd. He also sits on the Pearson Qualifications Committee and provides advice to GoodNotes, Edwin Group and Everfi.
As a government minister and MP, Jim's portfolios included rural affairs, schools, digital and employment. He was a member of Gordon Brown's Cabinet, before joining the Lords in 2010. He regularly speaks in the Lords on education and technology policy.
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.
Job Titles:
- Regional Managing Director of Europe for Nord Anglia Education
- Regional Managing Director, Europe
Richard Davies is Regional Managing Director, Europe, at Nord Anglia Education.
Richard Davies is Regional Managing Director of Europe for Nord Anglia Education. He brings extensive experience to the European region thanks to his deep understanding of Nord Anglia Education, its educational philosophy, and its overall culture. He joined the organisation in 2010 as a Business Development Manager and since then he has held important management roles across the global organisation, including as Head of Operational Excellence in 2019 and as Head of Latin American Schools in 2021, where he oversaw significant improvements in these schools' educational, commercial, and operational performance.
Richard holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Bristol and currently lives in Lausanne, Switzerland with his wife and two children.
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.
Shaun Williams is Regional Managing Director for Nord Anglia Education in Southeast Asia, Middle East and India.
Prior to taking up this role in 2015, Shaun worked as a teacher and school leader in the UK for 20 years before moving to international education in 2002 taking up his first principal role in Dubai at Jumeirah College. In 2007 he became principal of BIS HCMC and went on the lead the project teams which open three more schools in Vietnam between 2011 and 2013.
Shaun is also a past chairman of FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia).
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.
Job Titles:
- Interim Chief Financial Officer
Victoria Phelps-Gill is the Interim Chief Financial Officer of Nord Anglia Education.
Victoria Phelps-Gill is Interim Chief Financial Officer.
She joined Nord Anglia Education as Group Financial Controller in March 2019 and more recently Victoria has been Head of Financial Strategy working on key strategic projects for the board.
Prior to joining Nord Anglia Education Victoria worked at HSBC for over 17 years in multiple roles and locations across the Group, most notably in Hong Kong as Senior Manager External Disclosure for Asia, Chief Accounting Officer for MENA in Dubai, Global Head of External and Regulatory Reporting in the service centres in India, and finally as Head of Operational Accounting for the UK Bank.
Victoria graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in Accounting and Finance and completed her accounting qualification with BDO Stoy Hayward.