Kimbolton School, Cambridgeshire, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Doug Harper as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), following a rigorous, multi-stage recruitment and selection process that attracted strong candidates from within and beyond the independent education sector.

Doug brings a wealth of leadership experience across education, international development and complex operational environments. He will take up his newly defined role as COO at the school on 26 March 2026, succeeding the current Bursar, Mrs Jenny Agnew, who is leaving to take up the role of COO at Taunton School.

Doug began his career as a commissioned officer in the British Army’s Royal Engineers, serving for nine years in the UK and overseas. Over the past 12 years, he has held a number of senior executive roles in international development organisations. These include Chief Executive of Engineers Without Borders UK, a charity that engages engineering students and professionals in sustainability and global development projects. He currently holds the role of Chief Operating Officer at DMI, an organisation that delivers evidence-based media campaigns to improve health outcomes in low-income countries.

Across these roles, Doug has led organisational turnarounds, overseen complex and high-value projects, managed international offices, and played a central role in setting and delivering long-term strategic direction.

Doug grew up just south of Cambridge and recently returned to the area with his family. Academically, he holds a first-class degree in Civil and Structural Engineering from Newcastle University and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Leicester, alongside professional qualifications in construction, project and financial management.

Commenting on his appointment, Doug said:

“I’m delighted to be joining Kimbolton as its first Chief Operating Officer. The school’s strong sense of community and family resonates with my own values, and I’m excited to help ensure that everything behind the scenes supports the excellent all-round education on offer. Much of my career has been focused outside the UK, so I’m looking forward to seeing the impact of my work here”.

Will Chuter, Headmaster at Kimbolton School, added:

“Throughout the recruitment process, the Governors and I felt strongly that Doug’s personality, values and approach to leadership – alongside his professional experience and commitment to a career that has always had developing people at its heart – would make him an ideal person to take on such a broad and important portfolio of responsibilities at Kimbolton. I am excited at the prospect of working with him to continue to build on our current position of strength and develop our school into the next decade. Welcome to our Kimbolton family, Doug. We also wish Jenny the very best in her next challenge and thank her for five years of exceptional service to Kimbolton.”