Pearson PLC (LSE:PSON) has appointed a former director at Google and chairman of Twitter as its new chair designate.
Omid Kordestani will take on the role of non-executive director and chair designate, joining the Board in March next year and becoming chair in April 2022, succeeding current incumbent Sidney Taurel.
The company said Kordestani “brings significant experience of leading and advising some of the world's best-known consumer technology brands, which will further Pearson's ambition to accelerate its digital, lifelong learning strategy.”
It added that, during his 30 years in Silicon Valley, Kordestani played key roles in the growth and success of internet pioneers Netscape, Google and Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR).
Most recently he spent five years as the executive chair of Twitter and continues to sit on its board; prior to that Kordestani was chief business officer at Google, where he also served as a senior advisor to the CEO and founders during the transition to Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG).
Pearson states it remains on track to deliver adjusted operating profit for FY 2021 in line with market expectations.
Kordestani said: "I believe Pearson has a tremendous opportunity to help everybody achieve a lifetime of learning.”
He added he is looking forward to forming a strong partnership with chief executive, Andy Bird, in order to help capture the company's enormous growth potential, “and to capitalise on the significant opportunities in digital learning."
Bird describes Kordestani as having been “a driving force behind the growth of a number of world-changing tech companies”, and adds that the new chair will help propel the company’s strategy forward for the benefit of all stakeholders.
As he prepares to exit, current chair Taurel said he is confident the company is well positioned to succeed and welcomed Kordestani as his successor.
Pearson also announced that senior independent director Tim Score will step into the position of deputy chair designate and take over the full role at the conclusion of the company's annual general meeting in April.