Musical Chairs at the Top: Why Are Hong Kong's Leading International Schools Losing Their Heads?

As we have reached the end of the 2025/26 academic year, a number of heads have also reached the end of their term. This year, we are seeing a wave of sudden and significant leadership departures. For us parents investing substantial sums — and immense emotional energy — into our children's education, the stability of a school's leadership is paramount. Yet, from Hong Kong International School (HKIS) to German Swiss International School (GSIS), we are witnessing a period of unprecedented turnover at the very top.

What is driving this exodus, and more importantly, how serious an issue is it for parents and students?

A Wave of Departures: The 2025/26 Academic Year

The sheer volume of concurrent departures at the end of this school year is certainly unusual and warrants close examination. Here is a snapshot of the shifting landscape at some of our city's most prestigious schools:

The Echoes of History: CDNIS

To understand the current climate, it is helpful to look back at the historical context of leadership turbulence in Hong Kong's international schools.

At CDNIS, the departure of Dr. Tim Kaiser without a secure successor brings back memories of the school's turbulent past. Although I remember it well, it was more than a decade ago that the school experienced a severe governance crisis. The departure of former head Dave McMaster in 2014, citing a "consistent pattern" of board interference, triggered a period of intense instability. This was followed by the controversial tenure of Gregg Maloberti, which saw mass petitions from parents, teacher walkouts and the dismissal of senior staff including primary principal Dylan Hughes and deputy Kathy Nutting. The school was described at the time in the international press as a "dysfunctional mess."

Fortunately, Dr. Kaiser's tenure brought much-needed stability and restored confidence in the institution. The appointment of Dr. Wil Chan as interim head is, on the face of it, a reassuring move. Dr. Chan is a beloved and deeply experienced educator and well-known to families for his recent work spearheading the school's new bilingual early years programme at The Southside. Although he is getting on in years, his steady hand has guided the school through transitions before, including the chaotic aftermath of McMaster's exit. 

The HKIS Dispute: When Governance Gets Messy

Perhaps the most concerning of the current transitions is at HKIS. Dr. Ron Roukema's departure as Head is due to a serious legal and operational dispute. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), the school's founder and owner, has filed a lawsuit against the school's operator, Hong Kong International School Association Limited (HKISAL).

The LCMS alleges financial mismanagement - pointing to massive financial reserves while fees continue to rise - and a lack of transparency from a board dominated by finance professionals rather than educators. The situation has escalated to the point where the LCMS has warned of potential eviction from the Repulse Bay campus and is independently searching for a new head of school, bypassing the current board entirely.

A new Head has yet to be announced.

For parents, this level of structural conflict is deeply unsettling and raises serious questions about the school's future direction and the very identity of the institution.

The French International School: A Year Without a Permanent Head

The French International School is another institution that has experienced notable leadership turbulence in recent years.

They entered the 2024/25 academic year without a permanent Head. Dr. Bonin, who had been leading the school, departed at the end of the 2023/24 year, leaving the school to be steered by Mr. Michael Maniska as Interim Head from September 2024 while the board conducted an international search for a permanent replacement.

That search concluded in June 2024 with the appointment of Mr. Bertrand Ferret, though he did not start until August 2025, meaning the school operated under interim leadership for a full academic year. The school has also welcomed a new Secondary Principal for the International Stream, Mrs. Helena Murchie, appointed in September 2025 from ESF WIS.

Two Schools in Transition: GSIS and ISF Academy

While some of the departures discussed here may be explained away as individual career moves, the situation at GSIS tells a more complex story. The school has now seen a remarkable succession of leadership changes over the past decade.

The recent principal history at GSIS reads as follows. Annette Brandt-Dammann led the school until 2018/19, overseeing a period of campus expansion. She was succeeded by Uli Weghoff, who served as Principal for three years until June 2021. After Weghoff's departure, the school appears to have been steered by its deputy principals for a period before Alexandra Freigang-Krause was appointed in February 2024 - mid-year, which is itself unusual. The school is, this year, also losing Simon Misso-Veness, the long-serving Head of the English International Stream, who is moving to Epsom College Malaysia.

The school has also not been without governance controversy. In 2019, a dispute erupted over whether non-German-speaking Chinese parents elected to the board could exercise their voting rights, given an outdated regulation requiring directors to be fluent in German. The school was forced into a U-turn, but the episode exposed the cultural and governance tensions that can simmer beneath the surface at a school that serves a diverse community while remaining formally affiliated with the German government.

Ken Stevenson steps up as Acting Principal for the English International Stream, a role he is well-qualified for given his long tenure as Head of Secondary. But the pattern of short tenures and interim arrangements at GSIS is one that prospective families should note carefully.

The situation at ISF Academy has come as a surprise: Dr. Oliver Kraemer's departure after a mere one year in the role was clearly unplanned. The school announced on the last day of term - in a letter to parents dated 12 June - that he was stepping down with immediate effect. The timing alone speaks volumes: the last day of the academic year, with no warning and no transition period. The swift return of Dr. Malcolm Pritchard - Head from 2015-2025) - as interim leader is clearly designed to project stability, but such abrupt turnover inevitably causes ripples of concern among parents and unsettles students who had barely had time to get to know their new head.

Should Parents Be Worried?

The critical question is: how much does this matter to the students in the classroom?

The short answer is that while leadership turbulence is unsettling for parents, the immediate impact on students is often minimal. Great schools are built on the strength of their teaching faculty. A dedicated classroom teacher will continue to deliver excellent education regardless of who sits in the head's office.

However, chronic instability at the top does eventually seep into the school culture. It can affect teacher retention, strategic planning and the overall atmosphere of the institution. As we saw during the CDNIS crisis of 2014/15, when governance disputes spill over into the hallways, it can create a toxic environment that is detrimental to everyone - staff, students, and parents alike.

For parents, these transitions underscore the importance of looking beyond the fancy websites. It is crucial to understand a school's governance structure, the relationship between the board and the executive leadership and the institution's track record of handling transitions. Not all departures are equal: a planned retirement with a well-managed succession is very different from an abrupt resignation on the last day of term.

Navigating the Uncertainty

At Top Schools, we understand that choosing the right school is about more than just academics; it is about finding a stable, supportive community where your child can thrive. Our team has the insider knowledge and historical context to help you navigate this shifting landscape - providing nuanced insights that don't make it into the official press releases.

Contact Top Schools today for a consultation and let us guide you through the complexities of Hong Kong's international school system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will the leadership changes affect my child's daily learning?

In most cases, no. The day-to-day experience of students is primarily shaped by their classroom teachers. However, long-term strategic decisions and school culture can be impacted by prolonged leadership instability.

Q: Is the HKIS Repulse Bay campus really at risk?

The LCMS has stated that eviction is a possibility if the current operator (HKISAL) does not rectify alleged breaches of their agreement. However, they have also pledged to ensure minimal disruption to students, potentially by establishing a new entity - Hong Kong Pacific School - on the same site. Court hearings begin in late 2026, so this will be playing out for a few years.

Q: Why do international school heads seem to move on so frequently?

International school leadership is a highly transient profession globally. Heads often move between countries to advance their careers. However, the unique pressures of Hong Kong - including demanding boards, high parental expectations and a complex regulatory environment - can sometimes accelerate these transitions.

Q: What should I look for when assessing a school's leadership stability?

Look at the average tenure of recent heads, how departures have been communicated to parents, whether the school has a clear succession plan and the relationship between the board and the executive leadership. Schools that handle transitions transparently and thoughtfully are far more likely to maintain their culture and standards in the long run.