The Department for Education announced that Ruth Hannant and Polly Payne will jointly serve as Chief Executives of the Office for Students (OfS) effective 15 June 2026. The appointment follows an open recruitment process and reflects the pair’s 16‑year history of working together in senior government roles, including Director General positions at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Department for Transport, and Director of Higher Education at the Department for Education. They will lead the regulator in protecting students’ interests and maintaining quality across the sector. From 1 April, Interim Chief Executive Josh Fleming will assume the role after Susan Lapworth’s departure. The OfS Board and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson highlighted the importance of strong leadership for the sector’s financial sustainability and student confidence.
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