Pearson confirms CFO transition as Sally Johnson steps down and Simon Robson appointed

The FTSE 100 education company names a successor following a planned process, with leadership change set for May as Pearson outlines continued strategic momentum.

Pearson has announced that Simon Robson will become Group Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Sally Johnson, who will leave the company later this year to take up a CFO role at a large privately owned business.

The transition follows what Pearson describes as a planned succession process and comes as the company enters 2026 projecting mid-single digit underlying sales growth.

Robson will join Pearson on 30 March 2026 and assume the role of Group CFO and Executive Director on 8 May 2026, following a coordinated handover with Johnson.

Pearson, a FTSE 100 education company with approximately £4 billion in turnover and 25,000 employees, has undergone significant operational and strategic transformation over the past decade. Johnson’s tenure included oversight of global ERP implementation, shared service transitions, cost reduction programs, and finance modernization initiatives.

The change marks the end of Johnson’s nearly 26-year tenure at Pearson, including six years as Group CFO, during which she led finance transformation, strengthened financial performance, and refined capital allocation strategy.

Leadership transition at a pivotal moment

In a LinkedIn post, Johnson wrote: “After nearly 26 years at Pearson — including the last six as Group CFO — I’ve made the very difficult decision to move on later this year and take on a new challenge.”

She described the move as “not an easy choice” and said she was “incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together: delivering stronger and more consistent financial performance, driving significant business and finance transformation, and sharpening our approach to capital allocation.”

Johnson also confirmed her successor publicly, writing: “I’m delighted that Simon Robson will be joining Pearson as the next Group CFO. He is an excellent leader and a great fit for Pearson’s culture, and I know the finance team — and the wider business — will be in very good hands.”

In the official announcement, Omar Abbosh, Chief Executive Officer of Pearson, says:

“I would like to congratulate Sally on her new opportunity and thank her for the outstanding contribution to Pearson over many years. We are very grateful for her leadership as CFO, especially the critical role she has played in strengthening the company and positioning it for the future.

I am delighted to welcome Simon to Pearson. He brings deep financial expertise, strong leadership experience and a proven track record from a large, global business. I am confident that he will be a great addition to the executive team and will support the continued delivery of our strategy.”

Robson joins from Sky

Robson joins from Sky, where he has held several senior finance and strategy roles since 1997, including CFO of Sky Deutschland, Deputy Group CFO, and Group CFO since June 2020. He holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Sheffield and is a chartered certified accountant.

Robson says: “I am delighted to be joining Pearson at an exciting time for the company. Pearson’s purpose, scale and global reach, alongside its strong strategic momentum, make this a compelling opportunity.

I look forward to working with Omar, the Board and colleagues across Pearson as we continue to deliver for learners and shareholders, and I am committed to supporting a seamless transition.”

The succession takes place as Pearson continues its shift toward digital learning, assessments, and data-driven services. While the announcement centers on leadership continuity, the timing aligns with broader strategic delivery across the education and lifelong learning markets.

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