CV - Available for Hire

1. Matt Clarke BA
 The Springs 4, Street 10, Villa 16, Dubai, UAE  Tel: +971(0) 52 6472067
 Email 1: ocean_spirit_66@yahoo.co.uk Email 2:matt.clarke@oxfordaqaexams.org.uk
PERSONAL PROFILE
An influential, tenacious & highly dynamic SENIOR MANAGER with commercial prowess, a wealth of global business
development expertise, & an excellent track record leading business, financial & operational strategy to optimise
quality, drive growth & engender positive change within the competitive education sector internationally.
CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
Qualifications Manager – Oxford International AQA Examinations 2015-2017
Oxford University Press (A joint venture between AQA and Oxford University Press)
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
♦ Set up and established the Middle East Hub for Oxford International AQA Examinations.
♦ Focus countries UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, KSA, Egypt, Jordan & N. Iraq.
♦ Recruited, trained and coached a competent team based in Dubai.
♦ Secured recognition agreements and protocol agreements with the Ministry of Education across MENA
♦ Implemented cross regional sales strategy.
♦ Managed, hosted and delivered major regional launch events across MENA
♦ Implemented Salesforce CRM system for Middle East Hub
♦ Secured new contracts with 50 key schools across the region ahead of plan.
♦ Ensured team activity was ahead of target
♦ Budgetary control for travel and events on plan
♦ Key note speaker for launches, conferences and training events
Senior International Business Manager 2011 –
2015
Pearson Plc, Dubai
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
♦ Led MEAC sales for the world’s leading educational group as a senior international business manager for Pearson
♦ Hit the ground running to develop & roll-out business strategy for Pearson Qualifications International
♦ Controlled teams & resources to drive sales & manage customer activities across North Africa, Levant & Turkey
♦ Headed Pearson’s full range of vocational, professional & technical qualifications & Edexcel’s academic offering
♦ Worked collaboratively to strategically win business, optimise growth initiatives & infiltrate emerging markets
♦ Spearheaded commercial partnerships to help educate over 100 million people worldwide for Edexcel
♦ Actioned multimedia training, tools & assessment to migrate best practice across the full range of core activities
♦ Managed innovative growth projects across knowledge transfer, collaborative initiatives & community engagement

2. ♦ Influenced key account strategy; developing collaborative partnerships, closing deals & negotiating large contracts
♦ Exceeded expectations; smashing performance targets & achieving profitable growth to win Team of the Year
♦ Presented at British Council Education & Employability conferences & delivered workshops on educational solutions
♦ Steered educational policy, delivering a paper on quality assurance & accreditation for AROQAE/Cairo University
♦ Advised the BEBA on the changing role of the private sector for skills-based education & employability in Egypt
♦ Recruited, trained & mentored managers in Egypt, Turkey & Jordan, 2 of which went on to surpass all targets
Sales & Business Development Manager 2010 - 2011
City & Guilds Group, Dubai
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
♦ Grew City & Guilds sales in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman & Saudi Arabia as a senior business manager
♦ Handpicked to establish international operations, setting up professional services for new premises in Dubai
♦ Networked extensively to identify regional prospects, maximise business opportunities & deliver focused proposals
♦ Evaluated new markets to plan/execute fortnightly business trips to expand a growing client base outside the UAE
♦ Worked with stakeholders to strengthen supplier links, develop strategic initiatives & optimise brand management
♦ Delivered key recommendations at board level on business development & leadership management strategies
♦ Created internal procedures to streamline operations, maximise quality/cost benefit & optimise client relations
CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE (continued)
Group Manager | Customer Relations Manager 2004 -
2010
City & Guilds Group, UK
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
♦ Worked in partnership with the VT Group, winning a £1.5 million contract & enhancing long term strategic growth
♦ Regarded as a commercially astute team leader with international education knowledge & management expertise
♦ Created & delivered a full programme of strategic events, conferences & networking activities to promote growth
♦ Beat regional records; achieving approval for 72 new centres, a 21% sales increase & £12 million in revenue
♦ Advised on Lewisham College/LCCI committees & hosted presentations for 10,000 learners at the House of Lords.
Business Development Executive 1998 -
2004
Broadcasting Support Services (BSS) (2002-2004) | Kenrick Place Media (KPM) (2001) |
Clear Communications (2001) | Trinity Mirror Group (1999-2000) | Kalamazoo Security Print (1998-1999)
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
♦ Developed opportunities for BSS, managing key accounts for FiveTV, Carlton TV, Oxfam & the BBC (2002-2004)
♦ Sourced/closed new business worth £1 million, developed 37 new client accounts & a £1.5 million pipeline of leads
♦ Created a new tendering process & wrote/presented bids to win contracts with the Home Office , SEEDA & BskyB
♦ Pre 2001, achieved £40k of new advertising revenue & 402% in campaign sales for KPM/Clear Communications

3. ♦ Won new business to achieve record-breaking sales for The Western Mail & Echo & 127% of target for Kalamazoo
QUALIFICATIONS, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, MEMBERSHIPS & PERSONAL DETAILS
D.O.B. 14.04.1975 Fluent in English with basic French & Turkish Nationality:
British
BA (Hons) in Tourism Studies, University of Wales 1997
Prince 2 Project Management Practitioner together with Team Leadership, Conflict Management & Training Certifications
Course Training in Bid Writing, Advanced Sales for Professional Services, Consultative Selling & Account Management
British Schools Middle East member.
SKILLS & KEY COMPETENCIES
 International education & training sector expertise  Inspirational, charismatic & visionary leader
 Proven strategic business development prowess  Strategic, innovative & commercial decision maker
 Excellent planning, analysis & management skills  Drive, commitment & readiness for a challenge
 Outstanding oral & written communication skills  Natural ability to engage across all levels/cultures
 Excellent customer engagement & negotiation
skills
 Results orientated & achievements led
 Vast leadership, motivational & team building
skills
 Professionalism & integrity at all times
 Strong IT skills including MS Office & SAP
software
 Willingness to travel extensively
INTERESTS & REFERENCES
Interests: Travel, Photography, Skiing, Fishing, Golf, Cooking, Film | References upon request