EKC Group Chair of Governors stands down after two successful terms

The Chair of Governors for East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group) has announced he will be standing down at the end of the academic year following two successful terms in the role.  

Charles Buchanan joined the Governing Body of the then Thanet College in 2012 and was a driving force behind the successful merger of East Kent College and Canterbury College, and the acquisition of Ashford College and the Spring Lane site.  

Chairing the Shadow Board that guided the merger in 2018, Charles was instrumental in ensuring the two organisations merged seamlessly, providing continuity for the communities they served. As Chair of Governors, he also spearheaded the acquisition of Ashford College and Spring Lane when the West Kent and Ashford and Hadlow College corporations went into administration. His work as Chair secured the educational opportunities for these two communities, and the subsequent oversight from him has helped to develop provision that has grown substantially, whilst improving its quality. 

A mark of his quality and experience in governance, Charles has also been a National Leader of Governance in further education since 2022. This role works within the Department for Education, helping to support other college governors to drive improvements within their own organisations. 

As well as his work in further education, Charles is an independent management consultant and business mentor, and was previously Chief Executive Officer of London Ashford Airport and CEO of Manston Airport in Kent for over five years. Prior to this he spent more than 10 years at London City Airport, ultimately as Strategy and Communications Director.  

Charles trained originally as a civil engineer at Oxford University and joined the developing Channel Tunnel Group in 1985. He was part of the team that submitted the successful bid to build and operate Eurotunnel and latterly was responsible for sales and marketing, both in the UK and on the Continent, through the opening in 1994 and the first years of operation, leaving as Group Sales Manager. 

Speaking on his time at EKC Group, Charles said: “Having been born and bred in East Kent, I am genuinely passionate about the work we collectively do. We deliver such positively impactful education and training across the communities we serve. I am hugely proud of the difference we make to the aspirations and life chances of all our learners. 

“Working first with Graham, and now with Lucy and the senior team, I have felt absolutely privileged to be part of such an awe-inspiring organisation. 

“Completion of the merger with Canterbury remains a truly proud moment during my time leading our Governing Body. It sparked the subsequent journey for East Kent Colleges Group that is not only financially resilient, but also Ofsted Outstanding. The fact that the Group is recognised as such nationally, is testament to the work we have all put in over the years, and is a just accolade for the whole of the Group.” 

The Chair Designate, Tim Kent, is set to become the new Chair of Governors once Mr Buchanan leaves at the end of the academic year. Tim is an experienced Governor of the organisation, and takes on the role of Chair after recently retiring from a near 40-year career in global pharmaceutical manufacturing which saw him end his time at a multinational company in a senior executive role.  

Lucy McLeod, Chief Executive Officer of EKC Group added: “Charles has been a huge asset for the Group over the past eight years, helping to guide us through a merger, an acquisition, an unprecedented Global pandemic, and an Ofsted that saw our Group graded outstanding. He has presided over significant improvement in the educational opportunities available to young people across East Kent, directly helping to transform the life opportunities of those within the communities we serve. On behalf of our Group, I would like to thank Charles for all he has done through the years. He really has made a significant difference.”