Private School News

HELEN FRASER TO BECOME CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE GIRLS’ DAY SCHOOL TRUST

The Girls’ Day School Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Helen Fraser, currently Managing Director of Penguin UK, to the position of Chief Executive effective from 25th January 2010.

Helen has had a distinguished career in book publishing. Prior to her thirteen years at the helm of Penguin, the world-famous book publisher, Helen was Managing Director of Reed Consumer Books and held editorial roles at a number of publishers including academic publishers Collins and Methuen. During her time at Penguin she strategically re-focused the organisation to attract and nurture the best creative talent, whilst delivering a more commercially focused business. Helen has launched the careers of a wide variety of well-known writers including Zadie Smith, Antony Beevor and Jamie Oliver, and led Penguin authors to win the Booker, the Whitbread and the Orange prizes in a single year. Under her leadership Penguin won the coveted industry Publisher of the Year award twice and has become recognised as an innovator, particularly in the digital arena.

Throughout her career, Helen has shown a deep commitment to public service. She has championed and improved opportunities for employees from diverse ethnic backgrounds, doubling the percentage of such employees at Penguin since 2005. She is the first Chair of the cross-industry Environmental Action Group and has spoken on environmental issues and lobbied central government.

Helen is a passionate advocate for the education and advancement of women, and a firm believer in the principles of the Girls’ Day School Trust. She holds a first class honours degree in English Language & Literature from the University of Oxford. She regularly speaks on issues of women’s leadership and the importance of providing role models for the women leaders of tomorrow.

Helen Fraser said: “’I am enormously excited by the opportunity to work for an organisation which I have admired so much for so long. When my stepdaughters were being educated at the GDST’s South Hampstead High School, I was hugely impressed by the energy, commitment and attitude of the school. I look forward to leading the GDST through the challenges of the coming years, and to helping the schools to build on their already considerable strengths.”

Lorna Cocking, Chairman of the Girls’ Day School Trust, commented: “I am thrilled that Helen is joining us – she is a wonderful role model for our girls. We will benefit enormously from the skills and experience Helen has developed over her distinguished career, and we all look forward to welcoming her to the organisation and working with her over the coming years.”