South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) is delighted to announce the appointment of David Withey as the new CEO and Principal, effective from the end of March 2025.

David will be joining SGS from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), where he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer.

David brings with him a wealth of experience and public service leadership gained in both the UK and Australia, whilst having a strong understanding of the Further Education sector through his time leading the delivery of funding of Colleges and Skills Providers within England.

Commenting on the appointment, Matt Atkinson, Chair of the SGS Corporation said

"We are thrilled to welcome David to SGS. His impressive leadership career and his strong alignment with the values of SGS make him a perfect fit for the college, as we continue to strive for excellence. David’s experience and strategic leadership abilities will be invaluable as we work towards doing even more for the learners, communities and businesses that we serve." 

Following his appointment David Withey said:

“I’m looking forward to joining the team at SGS and leading the college on behalf of the communities it serves. I‘ve been fortunate to meet some of the brilliant learners, staff and external stakeholders over the past few weeks and I cannot wait to meet more of them once in post. I’m also looking forward to joining a wider team of Further Education leaders in the South-West and to working with them, alongside business leaders and local government representatives to ensure the region is equipped with the skills it needs to thrive and remain the best place to live and work in the UK.”  

David will take over from Kevin Hamblin who has served as SGS CEO since October 2001.

https://www.sgscol.ac.uk/