Sir Cyril Taylor, AIFS Founder and Chairman

Born in Yorkshire, England, Sir Cyril Taylor is the founder and Chairman of AIFS. His long and distinguished career in public service and education includes many accomplishments. At age 18, he was awarded a National Service Commission with the King’s African Rifles. After completing his military service, he took an honors degree in history at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was then awarded the Charles Bell Scholarship by the London Chamber of Commerce to pursue the MBA degree at Harvard Business School.

After graduating from Harvard, Sir Cyril accepted a position in brand management with Procter & Gamble at the company’s headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. During his time with P & G, he developed an idea for an innovative new business. In 1964, he left the comfort and security of his corporate job at P & G to found the American Institute For Foreign Study. More than 40 years later, AIFS has global offices in 5 countries and annual revenues in excess of $180 million. Today, Sir Cyril continues to serve as Chairman of AIFS.

Since 1987, Sir Cyril has served as Chairman of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT). He has also acted in a voluntary and unpaid capacity as Advisor on specialist schools to ten successive Secretaries of State for Education.

Over the years, Sir Cyril has remained active in public service and received a number of honors for his work. From 1977 to 1986, he served on the Greater London Council and during this time was elected deputy leader. In 1989, he was awarded a knighthood in recognition of his service in education and in 2003 he was given the appointment of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE).

In the tradition of the public intellectual, Sir Cyril has also published a number of books and pamphlets including most recently Excellence in Education: The Making of Great Schools in collaboration with Conor Ryan.

A world traveler, Sir Cyril today resides with his wife in London.