Chief Executive Officer - Academy

Role

Purpose:

The Chief Executive Officer – Academy is responsible for defining and executing the Academy’s strategic direction, driving sustainable growth, and developing new revenue-generating business opportunities. The role leads the Academy’s commercial, academic, and operational activities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality learning solutions that address organisational and market needs. The CEO will position the Academy as a recognised learning and capability-development provider by expanding its client base, establishing strategic partnerships, developing commercially viable programmes, and maintaining strong financial and operational performance.

• Develop and implement the Academy’s short- and long-term strategy in alignment with the Group’s overall objectives.
• Translate the Academy’s vision into clear commercial, academic, and operational plans.
• Identify market trends, capability gaps, and emerging learning opportunities.
• Provide leadership to the Academy team and establish a performance-driven, innovative, and customer-focused culture.
• Present business plans, performance updates, investment requirements, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

• Lead business development activities to acquire new corporate, government, and institutional clients.
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of commercial opportunities, partnerships, and strategic accounts.
• Develop market-entry and expansion plans for new sectors, customer segments, and geographical markets.
• Identify opportunities to commercialise the Academy’s expertise, facilities, content, trainers, and digital learning capabilities.
• Lead the preparation of commercial proposals, tenders, pricing models, service agreements, and client presentations.
• Negotiate and secure contracts, partnerships, and long-term learning agreements.
• Represent the Academy at industry events, conferences, networking forums, and client meetings.
• Establish relationships with government entities, universities, professional bodies, training providers, and private‑sector organisations.

• Oversee the development of market-relevant training programmes, qualifications, certifications, and executive education solutions.
• Introduce customised learning solutions based on client requirements and workforce capability needs.
• Expand the Academy’s portfolio through classroom, field-based, blended, and digital learning solutions.
• Ensure programmes are commercially viable, scalable, and aligned with recognised quality standards.
• Evaluate opportunities to introduce accredited programmes in partnership with local and international institutions.
• Ensure continuous improvement of learning content, delivery methods, assessment tools, and learner experience.

• Assume full accountability for the Academy’s financial performance, including revenue, profitability, budgeting, and cost management.
• Develop annual operating plans, revenue targets, and financial forecasts.
• Monitor programme profitability, resource utilisation, pricing effectiveness, and return on investment.
• Ensure effective utilisation of trainers, facilities, technology, and learning resources.
• Establish efficient policies, processes, systems, and governance frameworks.
• Manage operational risks and ensure compliance with applicable laws, licensing requirements, and accreditation standards.

• Build trusted relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Ensure high levels of client satisfaction, programme quality, and contract delivery.
• Work closely with Group companies to identify internal capability-development requirements.
• Position the Academy as a strategic learning partner rather than solely a training provider.
• Establish mechanisms for collecting client feedback and measuring learning and business impact.
• Maintain effective communication with shareholders, senior leadership, regulatory bodies, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Build an effective organisational structure capable of supporting the Academy’s growth ambitions.
• Recruit, develop, and retain…