London, UK; 16 June 2026: Tes has today appointed Wayne Strydom as its new Head of AI and Innovation, further strengthening its leadership team as it accelerates the development of Tes360.
Strydom joins Tes with more than a decade of experience leading AI strategy, digital transformation and technology delivery across enterprise organisations. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the company following the launch of Tes’ connected platform for schools and trusts.
An experienced technology leader, Strydom has built and scaled AI and digital service divisions and led transformation programmes for major organisations. He has combined board-level strategic leadership with hands-on technical expertise, helping organisations translate emerging technologies into practical outcomes.
Strydom’s connection to the education industry began in his early career, where he founded an education-focused technology business designed to help underserved communities develop the skills needed to enter the workforce.
At Tes, he will be responsible for shaping the company’s AI strategy, supporting responsible innovation across the organisation and identifying opportunities to help schools and educators benefit from advances in artificial intelligence.
“Education has always been about people, and AI should strengthen the incredible work that teachers, school leaders and education professionals already do,” said Wayne Strydom, Head of AI and Innovation at Tes. “My focus is on helping Tes further harness AI responsibly and ethically. The goal is not to replace human judgement, but to remove friction, automate repetitive tasks, and empower educators with richer, more actionable insights derived from the unparalleled breadth and depth of the Tes platform that no other technology provider can achieve.
“What attracted me to Tes was the opportunity to combine my passion for education with an organisation that is already making a meaningful difference to schools and learners. Tes360 is a foundation for innovation, and I’m looking forward to working with teams across the business to explore how AI can help us deliver even greater value for our customers.”
As AI continues to transform industries, Tes is focused on ensuring innovation is delivered with the highest standards of governance, ethics and data responsibility, particularly in education, where trust is paramount.
Rod Williams, CEO of Tes, added: “Wayne brings a combination of deep technical expertise, strategic vision and a passion for education. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an ability to translate complex technologies into practical outcomes that deliver value. As we continue to evolve Tes360 and develop new ways to support schools, this experience will help ensure we remain at the forefront of responsible innovation.”
With the growing connectivity across the Tes360 platform, the opportunity to drive deeper insight and have greater impact across schools and trusts is unparalleled. Strydom’s arrival marks the next stage in Tes’ ambition to help schools unlock the benefits of AI safely and at scale.