THE appoints former Economist CEO as chairman

The former chief executive of The Economist has been appointed chairman of Times Higher Education.

Chris Stibbs, who spent more than 14 years at The Economist including six as CEO, joined THE this month, following its earlier acquisition by the private equity group Inflexion.

Having led one of the most respected global media brands, Mr Stibbs highlighted the international growth opportunities for THE, which works with hundreds of universities around the world providing data, events, branding and consultancy services, alongside its editorial and rankings.

“I’m excited to be joining Times Higher Education as chairman,” he said.

“The business benefits from an excellent brand with a real opportunity to expand internationally. I look forward to working closely with Trevor Barratt, THE’s chief executive, and the whole management team as the business grows further.”

During his time at The Economist, Mr Stibbs is credited with having successfully steered the group through an exceptionally turbulent period for the publishing industry, transitioning the business from its traditional reliance on advertising revenue to a primarily subscription-based model.

THE’s acquisition by Inflexion followed its carve-out by former owner TES Global, and put THE on an independent footing for the first time.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Barratt said: “We are thrilled that Chris is joining THE as chairman. His knowledge and experience will be invaluable as the business builds on its leading market position, enhances its digital presence and continues its global expansion.”