Mark Lester

Mark Lester Email and Phone Number

Global Partnerships at FourthRev, Edtech @ FourthRev
Mark Lester's Location
United Kingdom, United Kingdom
Mark Lester's Contact Details

Mark Lester personal email

n/a
About Mark Lester

Mark is Chief Partnerships Officer at FourthRev, bringing together world-leading universities, technology companies and employer partners to deliver learning experiences with direct pathways to qualifications and jobs in the digital economy.Previously, Mark was co-founder and Managing Director of Universities and Educational Partnerships at FutureLearn, one of the world's foremost massive open online course (MOOC) platforms. He was responsible for growing FutureLearn's partnerships to over 150 leading research-intensive universities and specialist organisations. In his position, he advised university executives on the higher education landscape, digital strategy and internationalisation. Mark spearheaded FutureLearn's online degrees and microcredential propositions, securing FutureLearn’s first degree partnerships and founding the European Common Microcredential Framework.Mark is also joint founder of the European MOOC Consortium. He sat on the Management Board of a major DFID-British Council project aimed at supporting access to higher education for 20,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, and on the advisory board of a research project led by Leeds University on The Unbundled University. Mark speaks frequently at industry fora globally on the impact of new technology in education and the emergence of new forms of micro-credential for lifelong learning. In his earlier career, Mark headed the strategy unit at the Open University in the UK. He has held senior positions in the financial services sector and in the UK civil service. Before that, he worked as a managing consultant at US strategy consultancy, Monitor Group, working on strategic challenges for governments and multinational enterprises in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Specialties: edtech, partner development, strategic partnerships, consulting, strategic planning, public policy, higher education

Mark Lester's Current Company Details
FourthRev

Fourthrev

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Global Partnerships at FourthRev, Edtech
Mark Lester Work Experience Details
  • Fourthrev
    Chief Partnerships Officer
    Fourthrev Dec 2020 - Present
    London, Gb
  • Partnera Consulting Ltd
    Founder
    Partnera Consulting Ltd Aug 2020 - Present
  • Eden Careers
    Co-Chief Executive Officer (Interim)
    Eden Careers Dec 2019 - Aug 2020
    London, Gb
    Eden is an ambitious edtech venture that is reinventing traditional higher education paradigms and will transform how millions of people manage and develop their careers. In so doing, we aim to achieve our vision of bringing social and economic advancement to entire regions and communities.
  • Futurelearn
    Managing Director, Universities & Educational Partnerships
    Futurelearn Jul 2018 - Dec 2019
    London, England, Gb
    Oversee all account development operations and value added services to universities and educational partners, including recruitment to and delivery of online degrees, micro credentials and short courses, and support or sponsor other projects and initiatives involving FutureLearn’s 150+ partners.• Devised and negotiated the establishment of the European Microcredential Framework across all European MOOC platforms, a common standard for microcredentials as the basis for a new international credential • Major contributor to FutureLearn’s successful round of fundraising, securing £50M from Seek, a publicly quoted Australian careers company• Expanded the partnership into the US, including new partnerships with Johns Hopkins, Penn State, Darden Business School and UC Irvine.
  • Futurelearn
    Director Of Partnership Development
    Futurelearn Dec 2012 - Jul 2018
    London, England, Gb
    Direct partnership development and key account management activities for FutureLearn's major strategic partners, and lead the online degrees business for FutureLearn.• Led the multi-lateral negotiations with 22 UK and international universities to agree common contract• Expanded the partnership from 22 to 80 elite universities and institutions across every continent in 2 years• Pioneered and led FutureLearn's strategic move into online degrees including proposition development and commercial negotiations with the initial university partners.• Secured and negotiated the first 8 multi-year agreements with universities to deliver degrees with FutureLearn, and managed the strategic relationships with these universities.• Built up and directed FutureLearn's healthcare course proposition, including forming partnerships with major healthcare partners such as Health Education England, the Royal College of Physicians, the Wellcome Genome Campus and the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy• Key leader in structuring the multimillion pound project to provide MOOC-based education to 20,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon in partnership with Kings College London, Kiron, American University of Beirut and Al al-Bayt University• A thought leader on developments in digital higher education with references in WSJ, Independent, Financial Times and other professional publications• A keynote speaker and panelist at international conferences on higher education, including: - Imperial College London Business School Summit on Future of Business Education, 2016 - “The Future of Business Education” at The Business Education Online Summit, Wharton Business School 2016 - Global Mindset Conference, Sydney, Australia, 2015 - MIT’s Learning with MOOCs Conference (LWMOOCS) conference, 2014 - The future of publishing conference at Edinburgh Business School, 2013 - Intel’s Education Summit in Warsaw, 2013
  • Elearn Africa
    Advisory Board Member
    Elearn Africa Apr 2018 - Jun 2019
  • The Open University
    Head Of Strategy Development
    The Open University Nov 2010 - Oct 2013
    Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Gb
    Leading strategy projects involving income diversification and partnerships, working to the Vice Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor's Executive team.• Produced the international expansion strategy for the Open University and presented recommendations to the university's Council.• Devised the Open University’s strategic response to MOOCs and set out the strategic options that supported the creation of one of the world’s foremost MOOC platforms.• Oversaw external consultancy on project to evaluate the impact of the Open University's Widening Participation activities
  • Better Regulation Executive, Bis
    Assistant Director
    Better Regulation Executive, Bis Jun 2009 - Nov 2010
    Ran the programme of projects across the BRE, oversaw the major restructure of the BRE, and developed the new strategy for the unit.
  • Commercial First
    Head Of Strategy And Business Change
    Commercial First Jul 2006 - Aug 2008
    Oversaw major change to underwriting operations involving 50 staff, delivered all competitor analysis, integrated building insurance solution into underwriting system and processes, and supported business development.
  • Monitor Group
    Senior Managing Consultant
    Monitor Group 1998 - 2005
    Senior strategy consultant to corporates and governments in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Example client activity included:• Reformed the strategic planning and budgeting processes of one the world's largest multinational agro-chemical company with 15,000 • Jointly developed the growth and investment strategy for the national biotechnology sector of an OECD country • Directed the redesign of an Asian country’s healthcare financing system for the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Health, managing 20 consultants and ministry officials• Co-managed an organisational restructuring and change management programme for a global port operator, working directly with CxO level management.• Developed the feasibility and investment case for a private oncology and multi-specialty hospital for China’s largest life science conglomerate. Presented findings to the Group CEO.• Devised investment case for 3G infrastructure for an incumbent national telecom operator• Created 3 year business strategy and plan for business unit of a global banknote manufacturer

Mark Lester Skills

Strategy Business Strategy Strategic Planning Higher Education Change Management Management Consulting Strategic Consulting Business Planning Business Development Entrepreneurship Research Start Ups Career Development Partnership Building Marketing Communications Leadership Policy Organizational Development Competitive Analysis Marketing Strategy Public Policy Strategic Partnerships Executive Coaching Higher Education Leadership

Mark Lester Education Details

  • The London School Of Economics And Political Science (Lse)
    The London School Of Economics And Political Science (Lse)
    Russian And Post-Soviet Studies
  • The London School Of Economics And Political Science (Lse)
    The London School Of Economics And Political Science (Lse)
    International History

Frequently Asked Questions about Mark Lester

What company does Mark Lester work for?

Mark Lester works for Fourthrev

What is Mark Lester's role at the current company?

Mark Lester's current role is Global Partnerships at FourthRev, Edtech.

What is Mark Lester's email address?

Mark Lester's email address is md****@****o.co.uk

What schools did Mark Lester attend?

Mark Lester attended The London School Of Economics And Political Science (Lse), The London School Of Economics And Political Science (Lse).

What skills is Mark Lester known for?

Mark Lester has skills like Strategy, Business Strategy, Strategic Planning, Higher Education, Change Management, Management Consulting, Strategic Consulting, Business Planning, Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Research, Start Ups.

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