KPMG partner Craig Bridgewater has been appointed the new chairman of the Berkeley Institute board of governors.

Mr. Bridgewater, who takes over from Calvin White as chairman and is a 1986 graduate of Berkeley, said yesterday he planned to change the focus of the public senior school.

He has been on the board for the past five years and has been deputy chairman for the last three.

"My vision for the Berkeley is an institution where all Bermuda residents can receive a quality education," he said. "I plan to work to raise the profile of the school's offerings. There are so many excellent things happening at the Berkeley, which range from high achievement in academics to fine arts.

"I would like to see these achievements shared with the public regularly and consistently. My goal is to change the focus, to accentuate the positives and use these to motivate the faculty, student body and administration to strive for excellence in education. The provision of a sound and respected education is imperative to Bermuda's future economic and social stability."

Mr. White said his successor had proven himself an invaluable member of the Berkeley Educational Society and the board of governors and played a leading role in the ongoing overhaul of the public school system, including serving on the interim executive board.

"He is fully informed with respect to the current Berkeley issues and also those relative to the wider public education system."

Other appointments to the Berkeley board included former principal Clifford Maxwell, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Lamb, Sean Tucker, Cherie Whitter, Valerie Smith and Scott Pearman. Board nominees included Garita (Peaches) Coddington and Barbara Tannock.