The Principal and Governors of Berkhamsted School are pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Nicholls, a former Finance Director at British Telecom and a local resident, to the new role of Vice Principal of Business Operations at the School. He will work in parallel to Dr Helen Brooke, the Vice Principal who is responsible for educational aspects of the school.

"This is a key appointment to our Senior Management Team, and Mr Nicholls will be responsible for the Finance, Estates, Bursarial and Human Resources functions, as well as working closely with the Board of Governors," says Mark Steed, Principal at Berkhamsted School. "A major challenge for Mr Nicholls will be to ensure that pupils and staff can continue to enjoy exceptional facilities and excellent levels of support across all four parts of the School."

Mr Nicholls comments: "I am really excited about joining this excellent school, which I already know well as a parent of three children here. I'm looking forward to working with all the staff and Governors at the school to develop further the team, facilities and infrastructure so that Berkhamsted continues to offer an outstanding education to pupils at the school and opportunities to the wider community."

Mr Nicholls is a keen sportsman who plays tennis for Watford and District First Division and is a qualified cricket coach.

Paul Maynard, the School's current Business Director, retires formally from the School in May 2010. Mr Maynard is currently the Chairman of the Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA) and his extensive commitments in this role have meant that an appointment to the new role was required at the earliest opportunity in order to have an extended handover period. Mr Nicholls is due to start at the School in January 2010.

From left: Mark Steed (Principal), Dr Helen Brooke (Vice Principal - Education), Peter Williamson (Chair of Governors), Peter Nicholls (Vice Principal - Business Operations) and Paul Maynard (Business Director).