South Gloucestershire and Stroud (SGS) College has appointed a new CEO and principal.

David Withey will take up his new role at the end of March. He joins SGS from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), where he is currently CEO.

David brings a wealth of experience and public service leadership to the college, from working in the UK and Australia. He has a strong understanding of the further education sector through his time leading the delivery of funding of colleges and skills providers in England.

Matt Atkinson, chair of the SGS corporation, said: "We are thrilled to welcome David to SGS. His impressive leadership career and his strong alignment with the values of SGS make him a perfect fit for the college, as we continue to strive for excellence.

"David's experience and strategic leadership abilities will be invaluable as we work towards doing even more for the learners, communities and businesses that we serve."

David Withey said: "I'm looking forward to joining the team at SGS and leading the college on behalf of the communities it serves. I've been fortunate to meet some of the brilliant learners, staff and external stakeholders over the past few weeks and I cannot wait to meet more of them once in post.

"I'm also looking forward to joining a wider team of further education leaders in the South West and to working with them, alongside business leaders and local government representatives, to ensure the region is equipped with the skills it needs to thrive and remain the best place to live and work in the UK."

David will take over from Kevin Hamblin, who served as SGS CEO for 13 years.