Oldham College has appointed a new Chair and Vice Chair of its Board of Governors.
This follows the retirement of Jonathan Edwards, who served on the Board of Governors for 16 years and was its Chair for eight years.
The new Chair of the Corporation is named as Brian Cronin, who commenced his tenure on the 1st of September 2026.
With a passion for supporting and empowering local communities, Brian has a career in the voluntary housing sector that spans over 35 years.
After achieving a degree in Housing from the University of South West England, Brian began his professional journey as a Housing Officer at Merseyside Local Authority.
Following this, Brian transitioned into the finance department of a Manchester-based Housing Association, where he qualified as an accountant before steadily advancing to become Chief Financial Officer. Later, he served as Chief Executive of one of the North West’s largest housing providers.
Brian said of his appointment:
"It is a great privilege to be appointed Chair of Oldham College at such an exciting period of growth and transformation.
“Jonathan leaves the College in a strong position, and I look forward to working with governors, staff, students and our partners to build on this strong foundation and deliver our ambitious goals for the College and the Oldham community.
“We have a dedicated Board focused on creating the conditions for the College to thrive, supported by a talented Principal and senior leadership team, who are committed to unlocking potential."
Adrian Barrass has been named Vice Chair of the Corporation, following the departure of former Vice Chair Sue Kershaw.
Adrian has served on the Board since 2024, in the Vice Chair role of Resources Committee and Link Governor for Sustainability and IT.
Adrian was educated in Oldham before earning a Master’s Degree in Engineering from Sheffield University.
Regarding himself as a proud member of the Oldham community, Adrian has also been fortunate to live and work in Europe and North America within the chemical, oil, steel, consumer goods and pharmaceutical sectors.
Simon Jordan, Principal, said:
“I am delighted to welcome Brian Cronin as the new Chair of our Board of Governors, and Adrian as our Vice Chair. They each bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Board from their respective careers.
“I look forward to working with both Brian and Adrian to build on the College’s success. Their support will be invaluable in helping us to continue delivering the best possible provision for students, staff, stakeholders and members of the Oldham community.
“I would also like to thank Jonathan Edwards for his leadership for the past eight years, and both Jonathan and Sue Kershaw for their dedication and contributions to Oldham College during their time on the Board.”
