Rona Fairhead to step down as CEO at FT Group

Pearson today (27th November 2012) announced that Rona Fairhead, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Financial Times Group and a main board director, has decided to leave the company. She will step down from the board at the Pearson AGM in April 2013. In a 12-year career at Pearson, Rona has held several senior roles including chief financial officer, chairman and chief executive of the FT Group and chairman of Interactive Data Corporation. She has decided to pursue the next phase of her career outside Pearson, after a handover period during which she will provide support to Pearson's new leadership and transfer her responsibilities.

Marjorie Scardino, chief executive, said: “For a little over a decade, Rona has been at the heart of Pearson’s development and progress. As our CFO she brought a new level of financial insight and discipline which served us well long after she left that role. She has led a fundamental restructuring and refocusing of the FT Group, including its successful development of digital businesses, and leaves a strong organisation with a bright future in a highly challenging industry. She has been an exceptional executive and colleague and while we regret her decision to go, we respect her desire for a new challenge.”

Rona Fairhead said: “The leadership transition at Pearson makes this a natural moment for me to make a change. I will miss Pearson deeply but will cheer from the sidelines as its new leadership team develops and evolves Pearson’s successful strategy and culture. I am very proud to have been part of it, but am ready to tackle a new set of challenges.”

About Rona Fairhead

Rona has wide experience in business, finance, services and manufacturing. She was Pearson's Chief Financial Officer (appointed 1st June 2002) before beginning her current role in 2006. In addition to the FT Group, Rona heads Pearson's professional and careers business that includes Pearson VUE (our electronic testing and certification business) and various skills and professional training businesses. She previously held senior management roles at specialty chemicals company ICI plc, and in aerospace with Bombardier/Shorts. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School. Rona currently serves as non-executive director of The Cabinet Office of UK Government and of HSBC Holdings plc, where she chairs the risk committee. She is also a member of the Cambridge University Library Visiting Committee. She was made a Commander of the British Empire in 2012.