Transport chief appointed BMet’s new principal and chief executive

BIRMINGHAM Metropolitan College has chosen one of National Express’s senior executives as its new principal and chief executive.

BMet said Andrew Cleaves would take up the new post in May, succeeding Dame Christine Braddock, who is retiring after 17 years as principal.

Cleaves is currently managing director of the transport group’s international division, having formerly run its Birmingham-based UK Coach business.  Cleaves previously spent 12 years in senior roles at Tube Lines, managing the public private partnership with Transport for London for infrastructure and maintenance of the underground.

BMet, which has some 50,000 students based on 20 campuses and centres of excellence in the Greater Birmingham area, was formed in August 2009 through the merger of Matthew Boulton College and Sutton Coldfield College.

Under Dame Christine’s leadership BMet has developed a reputation as a market leading college, producing some of the strongest results in the country, enhanced by long term strategic partnerships with global companies including:  Caterpillar, BMW, Samsung and Jaguar Land Rover.

She is a past president of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, a CBI council member for the last 10 years, a board member of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and former deputy chair of Midland Heart Housing Association.

Last year she was appointed as the High Sheriff of the West Midlands and Deputy Lord Lieutenant.

She said: “I am delighted to be handing over the college in its best shape yet, I know Andrew will build further on the work we have done to date and will be fully supported by the best team of staff he could wish for.”

Cleaves said he had been drawn to the BMet role through the focus on partnerships and employability.

“Christine has led the college through its growth and consolidation phases, and I am keen to continue BMet’s process of improvement and growth. Over the last decade it has become a significant employer and economic force in its own right, with 1,500 staff and an annual contribution to the economy of some £500m,” he said.

“We really can drive change and innovation into the education and skills agenda; there is real potential for more public-private training initiatives in this area, and I am confident that the same model can be used in other sectors for the benefit of employers and our students.”