Sovereign Capital’s higher education investment, GSM London, has appointed Alison Wheaton as its chief executive.
Wheaton has significant experience of leading service-oriented businesses. Most recently she led business development, strategy, property and IT at Mitchells and Butlers, the UK’s largest managed pub and pub restaurant operator, with more than 2,000 sites.
Prior to this she was business development director at PepsiCola International. From 2004 to 2008, Wheaton served as non-executive director for the London Development Agency, where she was a member of the Olympic Delivery Committee. An American national, Wheaton started her career at Morgan Stanley.
GSM London is a higher education provider, offering university validated undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across a diverse range of subjects, including management, law, economics, finance and information technology, along with a selection of professional-focused courses. In response to strong demand for places, GSM opened a new campus in Greenford, West London in October 2012, along with a fully equipped Study Centre at its London Bridge campus.
Wheaton says: “As a fervent believer in the importance of high-quality, affordable education, I am delighted to be joining GSM London. The School has developed a strong reputation for its commitment to widening access and focusing on the employability of students post-graduation. I look forward to working alongside our Provost, Professor Alison Wride, as we seek to further enhance our students’ experience and to make a real impact on their careers and lives.”
Michael Needley, partner, Sovereign Capital, says: “We are delighted to welcome Alison to GSM London, with her considerable experience of developing service-centred businesses. Since Sovereign invested in GSM two years ago, the School has seen increased demand for its places as students continue to look for supportive and affordable study options, such as GSM’s innovative extended programmes.”
