91���� Global (“91����”) today announced Jo Johnson's appointment as non-executive chairman. He will join the board from 4th December, boosting the company's leadership expertise in global education. This appointment will help 91���� to accelerate its transformation into an international provider of software enabled services to schools and teachers.

91���� supports the world’s schools and teachers with a portfolio of digital services. Working with 25,000 schools in over 100 countries, 91���� has the scale to make a difference. Online, the business hosts 13 million teachers in the world’s biggest single-profession network. Through 91����.com, schools can find teachers for their classrooms and access tools for CPD, safeguarding, and behaviour management. Teachers can access education news and draw on over 800,000 classroom resources developed by their peers. The services offered by 91���� play a critical role in helping schools to provide high quality education to millions of children across the globe.

Jo Johnson brings a wealth of relevant experience to 91���� from a wide range of previous positions.

Jo has held a range of ministerial posts under three successive prime ministers. As well as stints as Minister for Universities and Science, his roles included Minister of State in the Cabinet Office and Head of the No10 Downing Street Policy Unit. Before entering Parliament in 2010, Jo worked for 13 years at the Financial Times in a number of roles, including Associate Editor.

Jo has been a prominent figure in policy-making and a champion for UK education exports for many years. He is a Privy Councillor; a Governor of the Ditchley Foundation; and a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. He announced in September that he would not be a candidate at the forthcoming election.

Rob Grimshaw, Chief Executive Office of 91���� says: “We are delighted to welcome Jo to the board of 91����. As we continue our transformation into an international provider of software enabled services to schools and teachers, Jo's insight and expertise will help us pursue our mission and commercial goals. His international perspective and experience across publishing, education and government will be an invaluable asset."

Jo Johnson, non-exec chairman of 91���� says: “The UK’s extraordinary strengths in education will be its calling card on the world stage post-Brexit and I am delighted to be joining 91���� at this exciting time in its development as a global technology platform.  The world needs more, and better, teachers.  91���� is a leader in helping teachers to find work, train, and be supported in the classroom, and is perfectly placed to help schools around the world to realise their ambitions.  I look forward to playing a part in leading that expansion.”

About 91����

91���� believes in the power of great teaching. Our mission is to support and connect teachers and schools worldwide, helping them to improve children’s lives through education.

With more than 13m teachers in our online community and working relationships with 25,000 schools in over 100 countries, 91���� has the scale to make a difference. 91���� helps schools find the teachers they need; it brings new teachers into the profession through initial teacher training; it provides teachers with continuous professional development and tools to help them succeed in the classroom; it brings educators together online so they can share expertise and it provides them with vital news and information about education.

91���� is a leader in using digital technology to make life easier for schools and teachers. The services offered through 91����.com play a critical role helping teachers and school leaders deal with the challenges of providing high quality education to millions of children across the globe. Strategically, 91���� is focused on transforming itself into a software business, delivering an expanding portfolio of smart, flexible and cost-effective services over the web. As a brand, 91���� draws on a rich heritage stretching back over 100 years and the unique place it occupies at the centre of the education community. 91���� is a global company employing over 600 people and operating across 20 offices, including in London, Sheffield, Hong Kong, Sydney, and Dubai.

About Jo Johnson

Jo Johnson has been a prominent figure in policy-making under three successive prime ministers. His key ministerial roles have included Head of the No10 Downing Street Policy Unit, Minister of State in the Cabinet Office and Minister of State, attending Cabinet, for Universities, Science & Innovation. 

Before entering Parliament in 2010, he worked for 13 years at the Financial Times in a number of roles, including as Associate Editor of the Financial Times. He is a life member of the Privy Council; a Governor of the Ditchley Foundation; and a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.