Home > News > March 2004 > 04-Mar-2004

Learning and Skills Development Agency to appoint new chief

The Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) has announced the timetable to appoint a successor to its chief executive Chris Hughes, who retires at the end of 2004. The search will start in April with a public advertisement, with a view to selecting a new chief executive by the early autumn. It is intended that the new chief executive will start in January 2005.

Chris Hughes has taken LSDA through a period of rapid change and growth, from an £8 million to a £36 million business in just six years. He led the relaunch and renaming of the organisation - formerly the Further Education Development Agency - in November 2000 and an expansion of its activities from further education colleges to cover all of the learning and skills sector, including work-based learning, adult and community education, and post 14 activities in schools.

He says: "It has been a wonderful six years. I am looking forward to a different lifestyle, intending to spend more time with my record collection - and my family, of course - but also hoping to make a contribution to the learning and skills world through a portfolio of new and interesting projects. I am confident that the excellent work being done at LSDA will be sustained and that the organisation will continue to flourish."

Sir Geoffrey Holland, chairman of the LSDA board says: "We are losing a highly talented leader and a great personality. Chris's achievements are impressive. He has transformed LSDA from its previous role as a support organisation for further education colleges into a major national player in the learning and skills sector that has a reputation for quality and innovation. LSDA is now well-known for its excellent work in policy advice and analysis, research, curriculum development, continuing professional development and in running support programmes for teachers, trainers and managers. Chris will be greatly missed but he leaves the organisation in a healthy position, both financially and strategically."

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