Chair and Independent Director
Professor Mary Malcolm
Professor Mary Malcolm studied at the universities of Liverpool, Oxford, Leeds and Durham and has worked in UK higher education for more than twenty five years, following a decade in the Middle East. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Abertay University and then the University of Bedfordshire, she has held executive responsibility for research, teaching and learning, academic standards and quality and collaborative partnerships. She has previously been an independent director of Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce and Chair of Luton Sixth-Form College, and is a Chartered Director (Institute of Directors).
Executive Director
James Kennedy
James Kennedy joined GBS as Deputy CEO in February 2023, before undertaking the CEO role in September 2024. In the seven years preceding this, he held a range of roles at Middlesex University, including Deputy CEO, CFO and Interim Vice-Chancellor. Prior to joining the academic sector, James was the COO for South East Coast Ambulance Service, as well as a Major Incident Gold Commander. He spent over a decade with Thermo-Fisher Scientific and five years with Ernst & Young as part of their London operation. James holds a Masters in Engineering from Oxford University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Non - Executive Director
Professor Ray Lloyd
Professor Ray Lloyd is CEO at GBS. He was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Leeds Trinity University and a Head of Department and then a Dean at Abertay University. Professor Lloyd’s first degree was in mathematics, a subject he taught for several years both in London and then Botswana. He returned to the UK in 1996 to undertake a Master’s degree in Sports Science, later gaining a PhD in the same discipline. His current portfolio spans the academic life of the University including Research, Academic Partnerships, and Student Support.
Executive Director
Sunita Kotta
Mrs Sunita Kotta (M com, MPhil, PGCHE) has three decades of academic operations experience at various higher education institutions. Her experience has been working with international partnerships, QAA and Pearson reviews, and delivering successful academic outcomes for various universities.
Non-Executive Director
Leo Falcone
Leo has a wealth of experience having worked internationally as a strategy, transformation, and higher education leader for over 25 years. His other notable experience includes, being the Executive Director at the University of Sydney where he was responsible for co-ordinating central departments overseeing services to over 60,000 students.
Non-Executive Director
Ari Erdenetsogt
Ari holds a MSc Finance and Investment from Durham University. Ari has been with GBS for over 6 years and has been in various Academic and Financial positions. She brings a blend of financial and commercial experience to the board, helping to balance the academic and financial aspirations of the business.
Non-Executive Director
Dr Vishwajeet Rana
Dr Rana completed an MBA from Ohio University and gained an MS and PhD from Stevens Institute of Technology. Dr Rana has executed a number of complex cross-border equity/debt-structured investments and financing transactions in the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Hong Kong while working at HSBC’s New York office. He enjoys evaluating different global education models and applying them to unlock the potential of students through Higher Education.