An experienced college troubleshooter has been drafted in to replace Dame Asha Khemka following her departure from West Nottinghamshire College.
In September, the college was issued with a financial notice to improve after requesting exceptional financial support. It subsequently revealed that it had been given a loan of £2.1 million, and had entered FE commissioner intervention.
Earlier this month, Dame Asha resigned as principal and chief executive after 12 years at the helm. She had been among the highest paid principals in England. In 2016-17, she received a remuneration package of £262,000.
The interim principal and chief executive has been named as Martin Sim, a senior leader with more than 35 years’ experience in the further education sector. He officially joins the organisation in early November.
'Steering the college through difficulties'
Mr Sim began his career as a college tutor before undertaking a host of middle-management and senior leadership positions, overseeing areas including management information systems (MIS), IT, curriculum and quality in assistant principal and vice-principal roles.
He was appointed principal and chief executive of Salford City College in 2010, and retired in 2015. Since then he has specialised as an interim principal, including spells at Gateway Sixth-Form College, Leicester, which he led out of special measures, and most recently at Barnfield College in Bedfordshire, where West Nottinghamshire College states that "he has overseen its financial recovery".
Mr Sim said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead West Nottinghamshire College and work with its talented students and committed staff and governors. This is a good college, with an excellent reputation in the locality, and my main priority is to ensure it remains a vital asset to the communities of Mansfield and Ashfield.
“Above all, this means ensuring students continue to receive outstanding learning opportunities.”
Chair of governors Nevil Croston said: “The board has every confidence in Martin’s ability to steer the college through its present difficulties and build on its many strengths to emerge as a stronger organisation."
