New U.S. CEO for world-leading language test

LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The world's No.1 test of English for international higher education and migration is set for a major boost in the USA following the appointment of a new CEO to head up its operation in the United States.

Online education specialist Zachary Johnson has taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer at IELTS USA, which promotes and delivers the IELTS International English Language Testing System. IELTS, the world's most popular high-stakes English language test, administered over 1.7 million tests in over 130 countries last year.

Zach has over twenty years of leadership and management experience, including senior roles in global education companies, most recently at Blackboard Inc. where he held various leadership positions across the U.K. and Europe, Asia Pacific and the U.S. over the past 7 years. He will be responsible for increasing the number of institutions across the U.S. which recognize the test as proof of English language skills, and for working with the growing network of test centers in the country to increase opportunities to take the test. Already over 3,000 institutions and programs recognize IELTS in the U.S. and candidates can choose from regular test dates at over 50 locations in 29 states.

Johnson explains the special appeal of IELTS: "It is a truly international test, covering all the main varieties of English so that students coming to study in the U.S. are accustomed to a wide variety of accents and ways of speaking English. The test covers four language skills - speaking, listening, reading and writing - in different contexts, meaning learners aren't just ready for American English in the classroom but have the flexibility to deal with English in all kinds of contexts."

IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

For more information about IELTS, visit www.ielts.org.

SOURCE IELTS International