Iconic fashion house @Burberry to chair Digital Route Panel

Iconic luxury British fashion house Burberry is supporting the Institute for Apprenticeships’ Digital Route Panel as their Chief Information Officer takes on the role of Chair.

Mark McClennon will lead the group in defining what skills, knowledge and behaviours will be needed by employers in the field. At Burberry, Mark has driven a broad global agenda across both digital and more traditional technologies.

Before his appointment as CIO at Burberry, Mark worked at consumer goods giant Unilever for 29 years. He became the CIO of that multinational corporation’s North America division in January 2007, and then from January 2011 led the global digital transformation of all of Unilever’s consumer facing technology.

The Institute’s Chief Executive Sir Gerry Berragan was pleased to have secured the services of such a high-profile figure. He said:

I’m delighted we have Mark on board. He is an experienced expert in his field, who is well qualified to provide invaluable leadership to our Digital Route Panel.

On his appointment to the Institute, Mark said:

The opportunity to lead the digital route panel is one I couldn’t pass up.

To help shape how future digital apprenticeships look and feel, as well as being involved at grassroots level is something that I am excited about.

The Institute’s commitment to quality is one I am firmly behind. I have a belief in the power of digital technology to inspire and connect people, and look forward to working with colleagues across the landscape to define apprenticeships we need for the next generation.

Mark took up his role leading the route panel as of January 2019.

The Route Panels bring together industry experts to discuss and agree the standards of knowledge, skills and behaviours needed in apprenticeships for every occupation in England.

The Chairs lead their groups in reviewing and recommending apprenticeship standards and assessment plans and advising on funding levels on behalf of the institute.