FIL Fairview International Plc

Fairview International PLC

("Fairview" or the "Company")

New senior management appointments

Fairview, the operator of international schools following the International Baccalaureate curriculum, is pleased to announce two new appointments to its management team.

Dr Vincent Chian has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Michael Chian has been appointed as Chief Academic Officer of the Company. The Board has made both appointments as Fairview strengthens its operations and prepares for further expansion, both through growing student numbers within its existing schools and through acquisition.

Dr Vincent Chian, a former psychiatrist, has worked within the Fairview network and University College Fairview for the past 15 years. As the Principal at Fairview's Kuala Lumpur school since 2016, he has led the institution through several achievements, including being recognised as the top IB school in Malaysia for four consecutive years. As example of Vincent's commitment to innovative education is the introduction of the Toolbox skill development programme, first conceptualised by Vincent and which received the prestigious "Best Teaching and Learning Award". With a medical degree from Manchester and EMBA of INSEAD, he combines medical acumen with business expertise. Vincent's influence extends beyond the school as he fosters change and mentors future changemakers in the Entrepreneurs Organisation Malaysia.

Michael Chian is Principal of Fairview's school in Johor Bahru and holds a broad academic background with certifications as a Lynn Erickson Concept-Based Curriculum Trainer and a role as a curriculum document review consultant for the International Baccalaureate Organisation. He pioneered the establishment of the first four IB middle-year schools in Malaysia and has trained over a thousand educators. As the Founder and Chairman of BeEDucation Adventures Sdn Bhd, he leads a digital learning platform focusing on pedagogical flexibility and curriculum innovation, leveraging AI and big data technology.

Jeffrey Beard, Non-Executive Director of Fairview, said: "As Fairview continues to strengthen the offering within its two schools, it was a logical next step to expand and strengthen our management team as we prepare for further growth.  We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver high quality education at a competitive cost, thereby opening up opportunities for families and their children to benefit from our International Baccalaureate curriculum.

"At both Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, we are implementing measures to expand our student numbers and, within Asia and the United Kingdom, we continue to seek suitable locations to expand the Fairview network.  Vincent and Michael have for some time been key members of the Fairview team and these appointments reflect not only their contributions to the Company but also our ambition to expand our operations."

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About Fairview International PLC

Fairview owns and operates two private independent schools in Malaysia that offer the International Baccalaureate programme. One of these schools is located in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, and the other is located in the southern state of Johor close to the border with Singapore.  These schools trade under the Fairview brand which was founded in 1978, and were subsequently acquired by Agodeus Sdn Bhd, a company owned by the Chian family, in 2012. 

There are three other schools in Malaysia and one in the United Kingdom that also trade under the Fairview brand, which are under common control but outside of the Company's group.  All schools in the Fairview network are individually recognised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation as fully accredited to offer the IB programme across the primary and middle years; ages 5 to 16, with Fairview Kuala Lumpur also offering the diploma programme for 16 to 19 year olds.  Each of the schools not owned by the Company use the Fairview brand under licence from the Company accessing the resources of the Fairview Network. 

The school in Kuala Lumpur is the largest and flagship school that uses the Fairview brand, whilst the school in Johor focuses on the expatriate market in Singapore and so is internationally focused.

The Company plans to acquire more schools which can offer international education including the International Baccalaureate programmes both in Asia and the UK.  The Company in particular believes there is an opportunity to acquire underperforming private independent schools in the UK and adapt its product offering to be authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate programme.  With a rise in popularity of the International Baccalaureate programme in both the independent and state sector in the UK, with a growing acceptance of International Baccalaureate graduates by UK universities, the Directors believe that the Company's and Fairview Network schools will appeal particularly to the ASEAN, China and Hong Kong market; particularly families looking for an educational foundation in the UK prior to studying at a UK university.