Martin Bean is the fifth person to lead The Open University since its creation in 1969 and brings to the role more than 25 years’ experience working at the intersection between education and technology globally.
"I cannot imagine a more rewarding role in higher education than leading The Open University into its fifth decade of transforming lives, and transforming the way future generations teach and learn."
Experience
Before joining the OU in October 2009 Martin was General Manager within Microsoft’s Worldwide Education Products Group where he was focused on developing solutions to help the global education community address its challenges. In this role he was responsible for product management, business development and marketing.
He has also held senior positions with Novell, the global software corporation, including Vice President of Education Worldwide Sales and Market Development. Martin also served as President of Sylvan Prometric, one of the world’s leading providers of testing and assessment services, where he was responsible for worldwide sales, service delivery, marketing and strategy.
As well as commercial roles spanning from Europe to Asia Pacific to North America, he is heavily involved in shaping education in the developed and developing world.
Martin was also President of the not-for-profit AIESEC, the world’s largest student-run organisation, which places economics and commerce graduates in assignments around the world. Martin secured grants from major global corporations and managed the Board of Advisors of this 40,000 member organisation.
Martin has recently been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the British Council, the Board of the Commonwealth of Learning and the British Museum’s Digital Advisory Group. In addition, he has served as a member of the Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board and the National Board of Directors of Jobs for America’s Graduates as well as advising the US Senate on the importance of IT in the Workforce Investment Act. He was also part of U.S. Department of Labour delegations to the US/EU Seminar on Local Employment Development, and to the Economic and Employment Development Seminar in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Australian by birth, Martin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Adult Education from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. He now lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife and three daughters.
