The National Governance Association has announced that it will move to having jobshare chief executives from September.
The current chief executive Emma Knights will be joined in the role by Emma Balchin, who is currently the NGA’s director of professional development.
They will operate as joint chief executives from 1 September with each working three days a week.
This arrangement will remain in place for Ms Knights’ final year at the NGA.
Lynn Howard, chair of the NGA’s board of trustees, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce the next phase of NGA’s leadership with the appointment of Emma Balchin as joint chief executive with effect from 1 September. Under the leadership of Emma Knights, the NGA has grown to be the exceptional organisation that it is today.”
She added that the NGA was pleased that Ms Knights will remain with the organisation for another academic year, and said “trustees are excited to see how the next part of our journey will evolve with her working together with Emma Balchin”.
Ms Knights said: “It has been my privilege to lead the NGA for the past 13 years as we have grown our offer to support school and academy trust governance. We now have over 70 per cent of England’s schools and trusts receiving NGA services, providing unparalleled support to the governance community and a huge testament to the team we have developed here at NGA, both staff and consultants.
“However, it is now the right time for the organisation - and for me - to move to the next phase of leadership. I am delighted to be jobsharing with Emma Balchin for what will be my final year at NGA.”
Ms Balchin said: “It is an honour to be appointed as joint chief executive of NGA, and I am thrilled from September to be joining Emma Knights, my predecessor and mentor, whose exceptional leadership has driven remarkable progress in supporting schools and academy trust governance in England.
“Together, as a jobshare, we remain deeply committed to amplifying your voices, experiences and expertise, ensuring that your dedication to schools and trusts is celebrated and visible in the sector. I am excited for the opportunity to lead the NGA alongside Emma and to chart our course forward.
The association is now looking to recruit a new director of professional development.
The NGA has recently raised concerns over the impact of Department for Education policy on local governing and decision making.
Last week, it strongly criticised the DfE for not including the need for a local tier of governors in its new descriptions of what multi-academy trusts should deliver.
And last year, it voiced concern over the proposed plan to give councils the power to apply for maintained community schools to become academies without the local governing body’s approval.
