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East Kent Colleges Group appoints new Chief Executive Officer

30 January 2025
East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group) is proud to announce its new Chief Executive Officer.

East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group) is proud to announce its new Chief Executive Officer.

Set to take over from Graham Razey as the new Chief Executive Officer, is the Group’s current Deputy Chief Executive Lucy McLeod.

After more than a decade in charge, Graham Razey OBE will be stepping down later this year.

Graham Razey joined the organisation in 2010.

Mr Razey joined the organisation in 2010 as the principal of what was then Thanet College in Broadstairs.

During his 14 years in the role, Graham Razey has helped the Group to achieve many milestones such as its ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating in 2023. This achievement also saw the Group become the first General Further Education college to achieve the highest rating in all categories since a new enhanced inspection framework was introduced in July 2022.

Speaking about his time with the Group, Graham Razey said: “It has been a true honour to serve EKC Group and its communities over the past 14 years. Watching the organisation go from strength to strength has been a huge privilege.

Graham Razey and Lucy McLeod.

“Together, we have achieved incredible things, and I am extremely proud of every single person who has played a part in that.

“I am confident that Lucy will lead staff and students to a bright future and allow EKC Group to continue to provide incredible opportunities to the communities that we serve.

“I wish them all the best, and would like to thank the Group, our Governing body, the students past and present, our local communities and our key stakeholders for their support during my time with the organisation.”

Lucy McLeod has worked for the organisation since 1998 and has supported Graham since he joined in 2010.

Following a rigorous recruitment process, she was identified as an outstanding candidate to lead East Kent Colleges Group to further success building on the £50m capital investment programme in facilities and curriculum developments

She said: “Our Group has had such a tremendous impact on me over the years, inspiring a genuine passion for education and our students, and the opportunities we afford them.

“I feel so incredibly privileged to have been chosen to lead the organisation when Graham steps down.

“We have done some amazing things through the years, delivering meaningful positive change in the communities we serve and achieving ‘Outstanding’ at our most recent Ofsted. I can’t wait to see what we can do in our future together.”

Chairman of the Full Governing Body, Charles Buchanan, added: “Whilst there is no doubt that we will be sad to lose Graham, both the whole Full Governing Body and I are tremendously excited for our Group’s future.

“We are confident that under Lucy’s leadership, it is set to be a bright one.”

Lucy McLeod will take over from Graham Razey in the coming months as he prepares to leave the organisation during the summer term.