David Henley Email & Phone Number

I qualified as a Vistage Chairman in 2019, but did not progress my ambition to establish a Vistage Group because of an unexpected change in my personal and family circumstances. However I remain passionate about supporting business and education leaders to make better and more powerful decisions by tapping into the insights and experience I have gained as Principal and Chief Executive of three specialist land-based colleges. The recent and tragic loss of my wife to cancer has sharpened my perspective on the challenge that business leaders face in striking the right balance between their professional leadership duties and their close family commitments. Reflections on my recent bereavement and my responses to it, have shown me that building and sustaining personal resilience is a vital component of effective leadership.With more than 20 years experience of top level roles in the business of education; as CEO I led three Colleges across the South West and East Anglia through an exciting and at times turbulent, 17-year period. A hugely rewarding experience with many successes and also some significant hurdles to overcome.I am a reflective leader with a strong commitment to continuous personal and professional development and have myself been an active member of a Vistage group for 10 years. With help and advice from fellow members I planned for retirement from the CEO role at the age of 55 - a tough decision made easier in the secure but challenging environment of my group. As an accomplished educator and trainer with a background in engineering, I am acknowledged for my visionary style. Through strategic repositioning, I supported the development of top teams to lead significant growth and development, quality improvement and transformational capital investments in the historic estates and facilities of two of the Colleges that I led.My purpose in life is to facilitate compelling professional development opportunities. Experience as a leader and my training as a Vistage Group Chairman inspires in me a compelling desire to support MDs and CEOs, who have a willingness to learn from each other, in order to grow their businesses and transform their lives.My 'escape' is the countryside and I revel in adventurous activities such as sailing and motorcycle trials and love attending music festivals with my family. These are not luxuries, but essential components of a well-balanced and energizing portfolio of ongoing life experiences, supporting me to lead a fulfilling and rewarding life.

Listed skills include Agriculture, Engineering, Sustainability, Education Management And Leadership, and 33 others.