Pearson chief Andy Bird to step down after 3 years at helm

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Pearson’s chief executive Andy Bird is leaving after three years at the helm of the education group and will be replaced by Microsoft executive Omar Abbosh.

Abbosh, who is president of Microsoft’s industry solutions business, will begin the role early next year, London-listed Pearson said on Wednesday.

Since taking on the role in 2020, Bird has sought to shift Pearson away from focused textbooks to becoming a digital provider of education and training services. The group was one of the best performers on the FTSE 100 last year.

Despite the share price performance, Pearson suffered a significant investor revolt over executive pay in April after the company’s new remuneration policy recommended increasing the maximum annual bonus from 200 to 300 per cent of salary.

“With Pearson on firm foundations and with a trajectory for growth, Andy feels now is the right time to hand the reins to a successor,” Pearson chair Omid Kordestani said in a statement.

Bird said it was an “enormous privilege” to lead Pearson through a period of significant change over the past three years.

Prior to joining Microsoft in 2020, Abbosh spent more than three decades at consulting group Accenture.

Abbosh, who will be paid a base salary of £1mn, will also become an executive director at Pearson. Bird’s total pay was $8.5mn last year, including $6.6mn that was performance-linked.

Shares in Pearson fell 3 per cent in early trading.