The head of a top Perthshire private school has stepped down just weeks after the school appointed a former Qatari minister as president.
Mark Mortimer left his job as ‘warden’ at Glenalmond College this week.
He announced his departure in an open letter to parents as pupils broke up for the summer holidays.
Executive Principal of the Glenalmond Schools Group, Lucy Elphinstone, has replaced Mr Mortimer as ‘acting warden’.
Two of Mr Mortimer’s three children attend the school and will continue to do so.
Glenalmond College in partnership with 35 Education
It comes just weeks after the Glenalmond Group, which includes Glenalmond College and Craigclowan School and Nursery, entered into a partnership with 35 Education.
35 Education is headed by Professor Basak Akdemir, a Turkish academic and businesswoman.
As part of the move, the group announced Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah as president.
Al-Attiyah, who served as deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister in Qatar, also has links to the Qatari royal family.
He will also fund 40 scholarships as part of the new partnership.
35 Education said it will make “substantial investments” in Glenalmond and Craigclowan’s sporting facilities and programmes.
Mike Farnan, former managing director of Manchester United, has been appointed Head of Sports Strategy.
Glenalmond College head resigns
A Glenalmond College spokesperson said: “It was mutually agreed that Mark would step down from his post following completion of the partnership, to allow the new chapter to begin.
“Mark worked closely with the board and 35 Education, helping to secure a sustainable future for Glenalmond, and is now very much looking forward to seeing how this will develop.
“We are delighted that Mark will continue to be a part of the Glenalmond community, as an invested parent, and we look forward to seeing him at events over the course of the school year.
“After a number of years in post, Ian Gray OBE, Chair of the Glenalmond Schools Group Board of Governors, has also stepped down, after serving his full time in office, staying on longer for the partnership to complete.”
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