Pearson names Microsoft exec Abbosh CEO as Bird retires

Pearson’s CEO Andy Birdis retiring after three years of leading the turnaround of the global education group, and will be replaced by Microsoft executive Omar Abbosh, the company said on Wednesday.

Abbosh, 57, will take over the reins early in 2024 from Bird, 59, whose strategy of selling directly to consumers helped Pearson out of a tumultuous few years during the pandemic.

Shares in Pearson were down 5.2 per cent at 838 pence in morning trading in London. They had surged more than 62 per cent under Bird’s leadership, but are still off their 1999 all-time high of 2,433.9 pence.

Bird sought to sharpen Pearson’s focus to selling directly to consumers and away from traditional educational outlets as the pandemic boosted demand for online learning.