Leadership Appointments Announcement
At a Glance: Announcing the appointment of our new operational leaders: Mrs. Wong, Mrs. Serfaty, and Mrs. Stanley
A responsibility of the head of school is to structure, recruit, and develop an expert, collaborative, and mission-driven leadership team. My arrival at FIS corresponded with the planned departure of two important operational leaders, our Director of Finance and General Services, Mrs. Katherine Yu, and our Director of Marketing Services, Mrs. Suzannah Denness, who both chose to move to the UK. I take this opportunity to thank them for their work and dedication to FIS and wish them the best in their future. Katherine departed on October 31st, and today is Suzannah’s last day at FIS.
One of my first decisions was to restructure these operations in three newly defined roles: a Chief Business Officer (CBO) in charge of all finance and operations of the school (IT, Facilities, Operations, Risk, etc.); a Director of Marketing and Communications who also oversees our events and extra-curricular activities offering and supports the Board in our fundraising efforts; and, finally, a Director of Admissions, tasked with the development and implementation of an enrollment strategy as well as procedures that ensure the success and viability of FIS. This structure is optimal to seize the opportunities and face the challenges a school like ours is facing in the current Hong Kong educational landscape.
I am happy to report that after extensive and competitive recruitment processes in each of these areas, we have now filled these positions. Please join me in welcoming in our diverse and engaged FIS community:
Ms. Helen Wong, Chief Business Officer (CBO): a Hong Kong native, Helen has over 20 years of experience in finance, including at BBC worldwide and most recently at the Salvation Army. Helen already started mid-October, two weeks prior to Mrs. Yu’s departure, allowing for an extended transition.
Ms. Romy Serfaty, Director of Marketing and Communications: A French native who has lived for over twenty years in Hong Kong, Romy comes to FIS with an extensive range of experience, including in education. She has worked for 14 years in leading consulting firms, developing a depth of knowledge and hands-on practice in marketing, communications, brand engagement and talent management.
Ms. Joanne Stanley, Director of Admissions: A native from Queensland, Joanne also brings 14 years of experience, including seven years in Hong Kong’s international education arena, excelling in Admissions and business development. At Davis College, Nord Anglia and Mount Kelly, Jo successfully led multicultural teams and oversaw continual process improvement.
I could not be happier to see Helen, Romy, and Joanne join our leadership team. With them and the rest of the team, we will continue to lead the school with the best interest of our students at heart.
