New chief executive for Times Higher Education

John Gill, Times Higher Education’s editor for the past 13 years, has been appointed the company’s new chief executive.

He succeeds Paul Howarth, who had led the firm since 2020.

Gill first joined THE in 2007 and has been editor since 2012, leading the title’s transition from a UK-focused policy magazine to a global provider of higher education news and analysis attracting an online audience running into the tens of millions every year.

His editorship coincided with the growth of THE’s influential suite of global university rankings, which now attract the participation of more than 4,900 institutions from 143 countries, and the development of its agenda-setting series of events, including the flagship World Summit Series.

Under the ownership of Inflexion Private Equity, which acquired THE in 2019, Gill has simultaneously served as chief content officer, with oversight of the US-based Inside Higher Ed, acquired in 2022, and business school publication Poets&Quants, which joined the stable the following year.

As chief executive he will have responsibility for the full range of THE’s activities, which also include data products, consultancy, branding solutions and recruitment. The company boasts more than 700 customers in 85 countries, and last year was recognised in the King’s Awards for Enterprise, for its contribution to international trade.

Other acquisitions under Inflexion’s ownership have included BMI, the leading global organiser of in-person and digital international student recruitment fairs; dataHE, the provider of code-based, data-led insights for the UK higher education sector; and the Education World Forum, the world’s largest gathering of education and skills ministers.

“It is a privilege to step up into this role as THE’s CEO and lead this wonderful business, which supports one of the world’s most important sectors,” said Gill.

“Over the last two decades I have seen first-hand what an indispensable partner THE has become in helping universities, governments and industry partners both understand and succeed in the ever-evolving landscape of global higher education.

“The opportunity ahead is to guide the next chapter for THE, and find ways to make our deep and enduring relationships with universities even more powerful.”

A new editor for THE will be appointed shortly.