The Board

Sir Keith Burnett FRS

Professor Sir Keith Burnett FRS is an eminent scientist who was formerly the Head of the Division of Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences at The University of Oxford. He also worked as a physicist in the United States and at Imperial College in London before spending two decades at Oxford and then 11 years as the President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Sheffield.

In addition to his role with Study Group, Sir Keith is Chair of the Nuffield Foundation - the charitable trust established in 1943 Lord Nuffield, the founder of Morris Motors, which aims to improve social well-being by funding research and innovation projects in education and social policy, and building research capacity in science and social science. He is also the Chair of the Academic Council of the Schmidt Science Fellows in partnership with the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, a global programme to support exemplary interdisciplinary science in partnership with the world’s leading universities. He has served as President of the U.K. Science Council, as a trustee of the Royal Society and as a member of the Prime-Minister’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology.

A speaker of Mandarin Chinese, Sir Keith has also been a significant leader of scientific and educational partnership between the UK and China. In 2014 and 2016 he was given an Award for Outstanding Personal Achievement by the People’s Republic of China for his contribution to the understanding of Chinese language and culture. Sir Keith was the co-founder of the award-winning #WeAreInternational campaign which welcomes international students and scholars to the UK, now supported by over 100 UK universities, education providers and businesses and led by the U.K. Council for International Student Affairs. He was awarded a knighthood in 2013 for services to Science and Higher Education.

Sir Keith Burnett FRS
Vice-Chair (Academic)
Study Group

Ian Crichton

Ian Crichton is Chief Executive Officer for global education provider Study Group.

Over an international career in business spanning over 30 years, Ian has worked in over 50 countries in sectors including in blue chip (FMCG) companies, electronics, health informatics, business services and software, for the last 18 years as MD or CEO. He also served in the public sector as Chief Executive of NHS National Services Scotland, where through Blood Transfusion, Health Protection, Facilities Management and Digital / Health Informatics services he worked closely facilitating top British Universities’ research, enabling better access to and use of patient data. He also Chaired Scotland's National Infertility Group, was a member of the Scottish Medicine's Consortium, and various ministerial advisory groups.

Ian’s articles on the changing nature and enduring benefits of global education have been published in the UK, India, China and East Asia. He describes participation in global education as a life-changing opportunity to gain an excellent degree while also developing the kind of global mindset and perspectives essential to problem-solving in a multi-polar world.

Ian is a proud graduate of the University of Aberdeen in his home country of Scotland, and has also undertaken executive education at CEDEP (INSEAD), Harvard University and the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford.

Ian Crichton
Chief Executive Officer

Paul Lester

Paul Lester is the Chair of the Board for global education provider Study Group.

Paul is a successful businessman with an executive background as CEO of Graseby, Group MD of Balfour Beatty and CEO of VT Group. He began his Chair career with John Laing Infrastructure and the global engineering company Essentra, as well as other FTSE 250 companies such as McCarthy and Stone. More recently he has chaired a diverse range of Private Equity backed businesses, consistently and successfully working with management to deliver growth.

Paul was a visiting professor at Nottingham Trent University, where he qualified as a chartered engineer. He was also a Governor of Southampton University, and at VT Group he grew an education business which provided Modern Apprenticeships and managed a significant number of schools in the UK. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by Portsmouth University, became a Freeman of the City of London in 2006, and was made a CBE in 2007 for his services to Engineering. 

Paul Lester
Chair of the Board

Tom Maughan

Mr. Maughan is a Partner on the Credit team and member of the Private Credit Group. Throughout his tenure in the Private Credit Group, Tom has held origination, underwriting, and portfolio monitoring responsibilities. He has broad experience structuring investments that span the balance sheet and has partnered with dozens of private equity sponsors to finance companies in the software, technology, telecom, healthcare, payments, education and business services industries. Tom is based in the London office overseeing the European team within the Private Credit Group and serves on a number of company boards.

Previously, Mr. Maughan was a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan responsible for leading the European team of J.P. Morgan Mezzanine, part of the Global Special Opportunities Group, a private multi-billion dollar investment vehicle of J.P. Morgan.  

Mr. Maughan received an M.B.S. and a BComm from University College Dublin.

Matteo Ranzato

Matteo Ranzato joined Bain Capital in 2017. He is a Director on the Credit team and a member of the Private Credit Group. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Matteo was an analyst in the private debt team at BlueBay (now Arcmont).

Matteo received a BS from Bocconi University and a master in management from London Business School.