BridgeU Announces Patrick Whitfield as new CEO

BridgeU today announced the appointment of Patrick Whitfield as its new Chief Executive Officer. Patrick will replace Lucy Stonehill, founder and current CEO on 1st May 2024. Lucy will assume the role of Executive Chairman.

BridgeU today announced the appointment of Patrick Whitfield as CEO of the leading university and careers guidance provider that connects international schools and students in 147 countries to higher education institutions globally. Patrick joined BridgeU, a Kaplan owned company, as Chief Commercial Officer in 2023 and has over 15 years of experience working in the global higher education sector across a range of companies including QS, IDP Connect and Adventus.

Patrick takes over from the current CEO and BridgeU founder Lucy Stonehill who will move into a board member and strategic advisory role. Lucy successfully established BridgeU a decade ago having initially founded the company in response to the challenge she and her friends experienced in applying to universities globally. Lucy said of the appointment “I am thrilled to announce Patrick Whitfield as the new CEO of BridgeU. Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the global higher education industry that will strengthen BridgeU and drive future growth. He has a clear and compelling vision for where to take the company in its next chapter.”

Patrick said “I am honoured to succeed Lucy in this role and excited to lead BridgeU into our next phase. We have a big responsibility, supporting tens of thousands of students and their advisors each year to make the right decisions about their education futures, and it’s humbling to take that on.

“Lucy has built a special business and we have an ambitious strategy to build on and drive the continued success of BridgeU. My time in international education has shown me the transformational value of technology for both institutions and students. Underneath that though, I believe the real superpower comes in enabling better human interactions and outcomes. Above all, I want to make sure that students are guided through BridgeU to make the right choices and have access to the best opportunities for their higher education, and that will continue to be our mission.”

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About BridgeU
BridgeU’s mission is to connect global student talent with the best higher education opportunities worldwide and to help K-12 schools and universities alike to harness the advantages of relationships and digital solutions to drive international student mobility. The BridgeU university and careers guidance platform is used by international K-12 schools in over 140 countries to help students make smarter, more informed decisions about their global higher education and career pathways. BridgeU’s partnership services help universities to connect with the largest single community of international K-12 schools in the world and empower admissions teams to design truly student-centric recruitment strategies that align with institutional enrollment priorities. For more information about BridgeU, please visit bridge-u.com.

Patrick Whitfield Bio
Patrick is an experienced executive in the global education technology and services industry, having held senior leadership positions at multiple education companies including Hobsons, QS, IDP Education and Adventus prior to joining BridgeU as Chief Commercial Officer in July 2023. Patrick has successfully led transformation initiatives in each of these businesses, and is experienced in leading global teams, developing go-to-market strategies, and overseeing new product launches. He also has experience in management consulting and publishing. Patrick is a Yorkshire native, residing in Surrey, U.K., with his wife and two daughters.