One has been lauded for changing the face of ready meals in the UK, the other has a CV that includes stints with Manchester United, Cirque du Soleil and The Jim Henson Company – excellent preparation you might say, for becoming the newest members to join the School’s Board of Governors.
For Kamal Basran and Michael Bolingbroke, it’s a voluntary venture that sees them join the CHS Board, already made up of some of Greater Manchester’s finest hearts and minds, drawn from the fields of academia, business and public service.
Kamal’s two sons both graduated from CHS in the 1990s. The youngest – Nik – now runs the Sharston-headquartered food business she founded while he was studying at the School. The Authentic Food Co provides frozen ready made meals from around the world to retail and foodservice businesses and has collaborated with celebrity chefs including Paul Heathcote.
Kamal, a former teacher, will bring extensive expertise and understanding of both business and charity.
New Parent Governor Michael lives in Wilmslow and has two sons at the School. From 2014-2016, he was CEO of Inter Milan Football Club, where his scope of responsibilities spanned the entire business, both on and off the pitch. Prior to that he spent seven years as COO at Manchester United, joining from Cirque du Soleil, the largest theatrical producer in the world, where he was senior vice-president for shows.
Currently chair of Superstruct, which owns some of Europe’s biggest music festivals, Michael has also joined the School’s strategy group.
Kamal said: “My boys have very fond memories of their time at School and have gone on to be very successful – and happy – in their adult lives. I still feel a strong connection to CHS and its ethos and am delighted to formalise my involvement for the next three years.
“As a former teacher, education is always close to my heart”.
Michael said: “My sons are very happy at CHS and now I want to give something back. I particularly appreciate the School’s emphasis on creating a whole person and its reputation for co-curricular opportunities.
“I am hopeful that my international expertise and connections in sport, entertainment and business can bring much to School life.”
Board Chair, former Managing Partner at Deloitte, Philip Johnson commented, “Kamal and Michael join the Board at the same time as our new Head, Neil Smith. I’m looking forward to working with all of them as well as the rest of the Board to take the School forward and strengthen our position as a dynamic and forward thinking school in the North West”.
