Driving change through education
Our
leadership
Transformative leadership
Our leadership team champions educational innovation ensuring our Group and institutions meet the evolving student and sector needs.
They have a depth of experience across a range of areas, including education, technology, and beyond. Their commitment to student success cultivates an inclusive environment that emphasises personalised learning, empowering individuals to excel in a competitive global environment.
Group
leadership
Aaron Etingen
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Since founding the business in 2003 with one institution and four students, Aaron has been committed to changing society through education with a clear vision of redefining and elevating the landscape of global higher education. Today, the group serves around 122,000 students on campuses across the world and 20M+ unique subscribers to our digital courses, spanning 30 institutions worldwide.
Under Aaron’s leadership, the Group has experienced rapid growth across various learning verticals, with an unwavering commitment to being a force for positive change in the world. Aaron has a passion for positive impact, prioritising sustainability for GUS, its institutions and its students.
Valery Kisilevsky
Group Managing Director
Valery is responsible for the functional and operational aspects of the business and corporate governance across the organisation. He is focused on directing operations to achieve the Group’s strategic objectives, driving the business strategy, and overseeing investments and ventures. His meticulous approach brings this to life and inspires, motivates, and guides senior leaders across the organisation. He holds several academic degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the College of Law of England and Wales.
Gary Narunsky
Group Chief Financial Officer
Gary is a strategic financial leader, who drives financial excellence and operational performance across the Group. He also serves as the Executive Chairman of Global University Systems, Canada, and is Head of the Investment Committee. Gary was previously CFO of the global education group Cognita and CFO and Partner of Grovepoint Capital.
Professor Maurits Van Rooijen
Chief Academic Officer
Maurits is an accomplished president of various universities worldwide and is a pioneer in international and transnational education. He drives the development of multinational higher education systems and champions educational innovation.
Siobhan Forey
Chief People Officer
Siobhan is a seasoned HR leader with extensive Board-level experience, specialising in transformational change, talent development, and organisational capability. Previously the Chief People Officer at Boohoo and Arcadia Group, she effectively combines strategic vision with operational execution while advocating for diversity and inclusion in organisational culture.
Max Etingen
Chief Commercial Officer
Max drives international strategy, technology, and student recruitment, overseeing marketing, sales, and business development for the Group. Educated at Schulich and the City University of Hong Kong, he serves on multiple education institution boards and passionately expands access to global high-quality learning.
Alona Ligay
Group General Counsel
Alona leads the group’s efforts in legal and corporate governance and advises the Board and executive management team on strategic, operational, risk, and regulatory concerns. Prior to joining GUS, Alona’s practice included capital markets and M&A with leading US and UK international law firms.
Miguel Blazquez
Chief Technology Officer
Miguel oversees the Group’s overarching technological infrastructure and brings extensive experience from roles at Laureate International Universities and Merck. He is dedicated to driving technological innovations that enhance student experiences and operational efficiency.
Will Major
Chief Transformation Officer
Will is responsible for our business transformation. He works closely with institutional leadership teams and functional directors Group-wide to deliver our vision of improving business performance, driving efficiency and focusing on student success. Throughout his career, Will has led large multinational organisations through their transformation journeys.
Elad Rachevsky
Chief Investment Officer
Elad leads the group’s corporate finance and acquisition activities. Elad held senior positions in a boutique financial advisory firm and as an investment banker at Citigroup. Elad is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from Macalester College and recipient of the Kofi Annan scholarship.
Yuliya Etingen
Chief Impact Officer
Yuliya believes in the transformative power of education to mould curious minds and shape sustainable futures for our communities. She drives change in the Group by leading ESG, social impact and establishing sustainable business practices.
Regional
leadership
Sharad Mehra
Regional Chief Executive Officer of Asia & Australia
Sharad is a corporate strategist and thought leader who is passionate about transformative education. His previous roles include CEO for Laureate Education in India and South Africa. He is also a leadership coach and human transformation specialist.
Anton Zakharov
Deputy CEO of Middle East, Asia and Africa
Anton establishes functions across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa to ensure further growth and enhance organisational processes. He also works closely with BPOs to ensure the continuous success and effectiveness of offshoring services and strategic initiatives.
Lord Jo Johnson
Executive Chairman of FutureLearn
Jo is an influential figure in education policy. He served as Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation under three Prime Ministers between 2015 and 2019 and before that as Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit. He currently maintains several roles across the education system.
Cyndi Mcleod
Chief Executive Officer of GUS Canada
Cyndi oversees institutions in Canada and the Caribbean and has led GUS Canada through a cycle of exceptional growth, helping to establish Canada as a top destination for international education. As an award-winning executive, Cyndi has over 30 years of leadership experience in education.
Sagi Hartov
Chief Executive Officer of GUS Germany
Sagi drives the German division, responsible for the University of Europe of Applied Sciences, Gisma University of Applied Sciences, Intercollege University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam and htk academy. Sagi is also co-founder and chairman of the Berlin School of Business and Innovation and the London College of Contemporary Arts.
Professor Andrea Nollent
Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive Officer of The University of Law
Andrea’s career has focused on developing innovative academic and professional courses, securing sustainable growth and expansion of the portfolio while consistently enhancing the experience and outcomes for students and client firms. She has extensive experience in transnational education, professional training, and publishing in this field.
Professor Carl Lygo
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Arden University
Carl is a Professor of law, Barrister and Chairman of Global University Systems’ Public Affairs Committee. He was voted one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in UK Higher Education, and he won the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from Education Investor Magazine.
Boaz Arbel
CO-CEO of UK College Division
Boaz Arbel leads the UK Colleges Division of Global University Systems. He is an accomplished operator and business leader with deep experience in driving growth and organisational changes.
Nitin Gupta
CO-CEO of UK College Division
Nitin leads the Colleges Division of Global University Systems. He is a business development professional with a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in International Business. With a strong background in higher education, he is skilled in negotiation, business planning, customer service, and coaching.
Bashir Makhoul
President and Vice-Chancellor of University Canada West
Dr Bashir Makhoul joined UCW following a six-year term as President and Vice-Chancellor at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in the UK, where he spearheaded the creation of the UK’s first Business School for the Creative Industries.