{"id":241365,"date":"2026-02-06T10:49:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T10:49:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=241365"},"modified":"2026-02-06T15:46:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T15:46:17","slug":"glf-names-new-ceo-after-drinkall-departure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/glf-names-new-ceo-after-drinkall-departure\/","title":{"rendered":"GLF names new CEO after Drinkall departure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A 43-school academy trust has named a Department for Education director and former ESFA boss as its new CEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warwick Sharp will leave his job in Whitehall and take over the reins at GLF Schools<\/a> in May, it has been announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He will move into the position that has remained vacant since the MAT\u2019s last chief executive, Julian Drinkall, suddenly stepped down<\/a> only 18 months into the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ian Wilson, GLF\u2019s chair of trustees, said: \u201cWe were impressed by Warwick\u2019s clear alignment with our mission and values, as well as his record in leading complex organisations through strategic evolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHis strong leadership capabilities, combined with deep experience in organisational development, operational excellence, and long\u2011term strategic planning, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen and grow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time at DfE and ESFA <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A former teacher, Sharp is currently director of strategy and delivery at the DfE, having previously been the ESFA\u2019s director of academies and maintained schools between 2020 and 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Julian Drinkall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Prior to that, he was the ESFA\u2019s interim CEO and principal private secretary to three education secretaries \u2013 Justine Greening, Damian Hinds and Sir Gavin Williamson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am extremely honoured to be appointed as the new CEO of one of the largest multi-academy trusts in the country,\u201d Sharp said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI see my new role as a huge privilege and look forward to building on the continuing success of GLF Schools.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Drinkall\u2019s departure last May, CFO James Nicholson has been running the trust on an interim basis. He said he is \u201cexcited to work with Warwick\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 43 schools under its banner, GLF is the 12th-largest trust in England.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 43-school MAT is set to be run by former principal private secretary to three education secretaries<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311204,"featured_media":241369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[32,28,679],"post-theme":[3304],"class_list":["post-241365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-academies","tag-dfe","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