ICS.AI names Dr Crispin Bloomfield to lead UK education AI
ICS.AI has named Dr Crispin Bloomfield as its new Education Sector Leader to drive the adoption of artificial intelligence across UK education.
Dr Bloomfield joins ICS.AI after nearly 30 years of experience at the intersection of technology and higher education, including a significant spell with Microsoft's global consulting team. During his tenure at Microsoft's Industry Solutions Delivery group, he worked with a variety of education institutions, from individual campuses to national education bodies, providing strategic consultancy on digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence.
Deep experience
According to ICS.AI, Dr Bloomfield has provided consultancy services to six of the top ten UK universities and four of Europe's most prominent business schools. His recent collaborations included advising UNESCO Paris in developing an AI proof of concept to support the organisation's mission in global education.
"ICS.AI has already shown the power of AI to reimagine how universities engage with students and deliver services. I've seen first-hand how ICS.AI's innovative approach inspired rapid results at institutions like Durham University, where our work helped redefine admissions strategy, earned national award nominations, and featured in the Educause Horizon Report. I'm proud to be part of a company that's shaping the future with purpose and creativity," said Dr Bloomfield.
ICS.AI said that Dr Bloomfield boasts expertise in executive-level engagement, institutional strategy and recovery of digital programmes, and scaling of digital initiatives. His previous work has involved collaboration with major UK tertiary institutions such as Oxford, Imperial College London, and the University of Manchester. His remit at ICS.AI will cover not only IT, but also the use of AI in admissions, the student experience, research, and operations management.
Leadership vision
"Cris' unparalleled track record in education technology, coupled with his passion for driving meaningful, measurable outcomes, makes him the ideal leader to accelerate our growth in the education sector. Cris understands both the strategic and operational challenges institutions face today and how AI can be deployed thoughtfully to deliver real transformation," commented Martin Neale, CEO of ICS.AI.
ICS.AI has stated that Dr Bloomfield's appointment underlines its ongoing plans to broaden its portfolio of AI-powered offerings. The company intends to support UK education institutions as they confront challenges in areas such as student engagement, operational efficiency and competitiveness in a rapidly changing education sector.
Dr Bloomfield explained that the intent is to enable universities and colleges to harness AI in ways that transcend departmental boundaries, integrating technology into the core of academic and institutional functions. He said his appointment emphasises a commitment not only to technology solutions, but also to effective change management and organisational agility.
"Our goal is to ensure that AI doesn't just promise change, but delivers it, helping UK institutions set new standards for excellence, agility, and student success," added Dr Bloomfield.
ICS.AI says its AI-powered solutions are already used by a range of universities and local councils. By appointing Dr Bloomfield as Education Sector Leader, the company aims to deepen its engagement with the UK education sector and reinforce the role of AI in reshaping institutional strategies and operations.
