Most People-Focused CEO: Public/Voluntary Sector


WINNER Marius Frank, CEO, ASDAN


FINALISTS


• Jayne Clarke, principal, Oldham Sixth Form College


•Martin Edwards, CEO, Julia’s House Dorset Children’s Hospice


• Anne Hinchey, CEO, Wales and West Housing Association


• Steve Jennings, CEO, Weaver Vale Housing Trust


• Gary Linton, Head, ACPO Criminal Records Offi ce


• Rob Owen, CEO, St Giles Trust


• Andrew Purvis, ex chief executive, Fairbridge


• Emma Saysell, CEO/director of nursing, St David’s Foundation Hospice Care


• Geoffrey Walker, CEO Sandwell Community Caring Trust


arius Frank, CEO of curriculum developer ASDAN, has only been in the role since last September, but has been with the globally-known


awarding body for five years as a trustee. He has long been an ambassador of ASDAN,


which offers programmes and qualifications that grow skills for learning and employment. He brings with him the highest beliefs in the organisation’s charitable objectives. He is particularly strong in the area of IT, understanding its critical role in providing operational efficiency and online solutions. ASDAN grew out of research work at the


University of the West of England in the 1980s and became an educational charity in 1991. The stated purpose of the charity is: ‘The


advancement of education, by providing opportunities for all learners to develop their personal and social attributes and levels of achievement through ASDAN awards and resources, and the relief of poverty, where


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poverty inhibits opportunities for learners.’ It provides support to more than 6,000 registered centres (mostly schools and colleges) in the UK and abroad. It publishes more than 100 publications, supervises the moderation and verification procedures for all its programmes and develops new awards, curriculum resources and qualifications in response to the needs of the profession. Frank and his senior managers provide


regional meetings and seminars for staff across the UK, including SWOT exercises for business planning, consultation on a range of subjects and quality assurance training. There are regular Q&A sessions and managers work in open plan offices alongside their teams. Anyone can see Frank or a colleague about


any matter. He also provides monthly email updates and a staff newsletter and regularly walks the building, encouraging a sense of fun as well as hard work. Speaking after one meeting, a staff member


said of Frank: “I found the enthusiasm catch- ing. I like his sincerity in valuing the opinion of staff and it is good to hear the honesty about where ASDAN is going. It was both


July 2011 HR Excellence Awards 19


inspiring and comforting to know he has such clarity regarding our direction. The activities are really productive.” Frank joined ASDAN from the role of head


teacher at Bedminster Down School in Bristol. In an interview withHR magazine’s sister title, education weekly SecEd, last year, Frank said: “My challenge will be to get across the message that skills need to be part of what a good education should be. Michael Gove needs to think carefully about constricting schools to narrow performance measures. There is more to education than that. Not everyone can end up at Oxbridge, but GB Plc will not get out of the mire unless young people understand that they have a place in our society and know they are both able and expected to contribute to it.”


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