Under School News Westminster School News OWW News
The experienced senior executive and institutional chair will take over from Mark Batten in spring 2027. With a long and extensive career spanning finance, law, third sector, the arts and independent education, Old Westminster Guy Perricone will be the next chair of the governing body of Westminster School.
Following a detailed search, Guy was selected as the standout candidate to lead the School at a time of exciting change and expansion, having demonstrated deep expertise in finance and fundraising, a clear understanding of independent schools, knowledge of the School’s strategic vision, and a set of soft skills required to bring stakeholders together as Westminster continues to move forward.
After leaving Westminster School in 1979, Guy studied law and modern languages at Cambridge before taking on legal and corporate finance roles at Linklaters, Salomon Brothers International, SG Warburg Securities and ABM Amro where he was global head of emerging markets corporate finance. In 2005 he moved into the not-for-profit sector as managing director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts and then chief executive of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. He also served as chief executive of the Middle Temple, one of the four Inns of Court.
Over the past 20 years, Guy has held numerous governance and trustee roles, including at the National Army Museum, Royal Academy of Dance, Gabrieli Consort and Players, Canterbury Cathedral, Northern Ballet and the Royal Institute of British Architects. Notably he has great experience of school governance, having been chair and treasurer of Christ’s Hospital School Foundation, where he oversaw the implementation of important changes in governance and fundraising, as well as serving as interim chair of the council of Roedean School.
Guy begins his term as a governor at Westminster from September 2026 and will succeed as chair at Easter 2027.
As chair he will provide leadership to the governing body, and guide, challenge and support the Head Master of Westminster School and the Master of Westminster Under School and ensure governance decisions are made in the best long-term interests of the School.
On his appointment, Guy said: “I am really delighted and honoured to be joining the Westminster team, especially at this exciting and important time for both schools. As an Old Westminster I am very aware of the incredible, transformational impact of a Westminster education. I am very fortunate and grateful to be able to build on all the hard work and success of Mark Batten, and I look forward to working with all members of the Westminster team to ensure that Westminster continues to offer a world-class, progressive education to boys and girls at all ages and from a wide range of backgrounds.”
On becoming chair, Guy will replace Mark Batten, who stands down at the end of his term after seven years, a period that has seen the announcement and launch of full co-education, a new pre-prep, and substantial estates projects including the Under School’s Chapter House building, all at a time of Covid, financial shock from various regional conflicts, removal of charitable business rates relief, and VAT on school fees.
Mark said: “It has been an eventful time as chair, during which we have had many challenges to face but also the excitement of planning for becoming a fully co-educational school, the introduction of boys and girls at age four and the development of a fantastic new building for Westminster Under School. I have enjoyed it all enormously supported by wonderful staff and a very thoughtful and talented governing body. The School is a unique institution, and I know that it will be in very good hands with my successor Guy Perricone.”
