Andrew 'Andy' Wood has been appointed the new Executive Director of the ODU effective 01 July 2025.  Andy is married with two adult children, ages 29 and 31, respectively.  He comes with experience as an international school leader with over eighteen years of senior leadership experience across South Africa, the UK, the UAE, and the Caribbean. His most recent appointment is the Head of the Think Global School - a "travelling high school offering an innovative, place- and project-based learning model".  Prior to that he was the Founding Head of the Green School, South Africa.  And before that, he held leadership positions in schools in South Africa and around the world.

Andy not only attended Bishops matriculating in 1977 but also taught here from 1990 - 1999. The quintessential teacher, he taught and was Head of Geography; Assistant Housemaster, Founders House; Head of Outdoor Education; inaugural Marketing Director; Common Room Secretary and was one of the pioneers of the school’s laptop programme.  He coached the 2nd XI and U16 hockey sides, including provincial selection and international tours and served on the Performance Appraisal and Sponsorship Committee.  Prior to coming to Bishops, Andy taught at Westerford High School & Rhodes High School.  He holds qualifications in School Management, Education, and has a BA (Hons) from UCT.

Further to the above, Andy was the  Lead Inspector for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC); Inspector for the International Baccalaureate; IB Consultant – British International School of Stavanger; Former Executive Member – South African Heads of Independent Schools Association; Textbook Co-Author – Oxford University Press (Geography & Natural Science) & a member of the Independent Schools Marketing Association.  Andy's community engagement includes service to the Mountain Club of South Africa (Cape Town Section), Past Chairperson of this 2000-member volunteer organisation, active member of Mountain Rescue, including team leadership & designed and delivered outdoor education and student leadership programmes.

Andy joins the ODU as its executive leader, an institution founded in 1894 as an association of past pupils of the College.  This strong tradition from the time of Frank Reid as the Hon. Secretary from 1908 to 1954; more recently furthered by OD Secretaries such as Brian de Kock, Tim and Carolyn Hamilton-Smith, and Dr WP van Zyl, now continues under the leadership of Andy, whose work is to further the interest of ODs in South Africa and around the world, connecting and engaging with them and with each other, from the office in Cape Town, as well as close liaison with the school.  Working with Andy is Dr Paul Murray in 2022 appointed as ODU Ambassador who is the Branch Secretary of the Cape Town Branch collaborating closely with members of the OD Committee to bring events to ODs in the region.

The ODU greatly welcomes Andy to his new position.  It is an exciting new phase for the ODU & its ODs!