{"id":233827,"date":"2025-08-21T14:50:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T13:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=233827"},"modified":"2025-08-21T14:51:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T13:51:02","slug":"new-david-ross-trust-ceo-no-longer-able-to-take-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/new-david-ross-trust-ceo-no-longer-able-to-take-role\/","title":{"rendered":"New David Ross trust CEO ‘no longer able to take role’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The incoming CEO of one of England\u2019s biggest academy trusts \u201cis no longer able to take up the role\u201d, it has been announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently in charge of Pontefract Academies Trust, Julian Appleyard was due to take over <\/a>the running of the David Ross Education Trust (DRET) in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stuart Burns, DRET\u2019s outgoing chief executive, is due to leave the role at the end of this month after five years at the helm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the MAT has today reveale<\/a>d Appleyard will not move into the vacant position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDue to a change in Julian Appleyard\u2019s personal circumstances, he is no longer able to take up the role as chief executive as planned in January 2026,\u201d a DRET spokesperson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRecruitment for a substantive appointment will begin again in September, with interim arrangements remaining in place until that appointment is made.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Stuart Burns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

DRET \u2013 which runs 36 schools \u2013 confirmed \u201cinterim leadership arrangements\u201d will take effect from the beginning of next month, as it prioritises maintaining \u201ccontinuity and stability for pupils and students\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon Rose, currently Burns\u2019s deputy, will become interim CEO. He will be supported by an executive board, which will also lead on \u201ckey strategic priorities\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The board will be chaired by Michael Elliott, who \u201cbrings over 30 years\u2019 experience as a Chief Executive across a range of organisations\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has \u201ca proven track record in interim leadership and trustee roles in secondary, post-16 and higher education\u201d, the trust added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MAT reveals Julian Appleyard will not take over as CEO as planned after ‘change in personal circumstances’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311204,"featured_media":232568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[32,489,679],"post-theme":[3304],"class_list":["post-233827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-academies","tag-david-ross-education-trust","tag-movers-and-shakers","post-theme-movers-and-shakers"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t