Marjorie Scardino
Born on January 25, 1947 in Flagstaff, Arizona, Marjorie Scardino, Pearson PLC’s chief executive officer, received her Bachelor’s degree in French and Psychology from Baylor University, Texas in 1969. She later went on to finish legal studies at the University of San Francisco.
Marjorie Scardino started out with a career in journalism. The would be chief executive officer worked as an Associated Press Editor before pursuing law in the 1970s. After graduating in 1975, she and her husband Albert Scardino started the Georgia Gazette. Though circulation was discontinued, the newspaper did receive the Pulitzer Prize in 1984.
Following the fall of the Gazette, Marjorie Scardino found herself as the managing director of the North American division of The Economist. Pearson then owned part of the British magazine. She became CEO in 1992.
Not long after Marjorie Scardino was promoted as CEO of The Economist Group, she was named CEO of Pearson. Her unparalleled work ethic and leadership skills resulted in her being ranked 17th on Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women of 2007.
In 2002, Dame Marjorie Scardino became a British citizen. Her numerous achievements were acknowledged by the government and she was later named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.