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{{Short description|British multinational publishing and education company}}
{{Confused|C. Arthur Pearson Ltd}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} 
{{Infobox company
| name = Pearson plc
| logo = Pearson plc 2025.svg
| image = Shellmexhouse.jpg
| image_caption = [[Eighty Strand]], Pearson's headquarters in [[London]]
| former_name = S. Pearson & Son
| type = [[Public limited company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{ubl |{{lse|PSON}} |{{NYSE|PSO}} |[[FTSE 100]] component}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1844}}
| founder = [[Samuel Pearson]]
| hq_location = [[Shell Mex House]], [[London]], England
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Omid Kordestani]] ([[chairman]]) |Omar Abbosh ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])}}
| revenue = {{decrease}} {{GBP|3,552 million}} (2024)<ref name="results">{{cite web |url=https://plc.pearson.com/sites/pearson-corp/files/2025-02/pearson-2024-full-year-results-press-release_28_february_2025-v2.pdf |title=Annual Results 2024 |publisher=Pearson plc |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref>
| revenue_year = 
| operating_income = {{increase}} {{GBP|541 million}} (2024)<ref name="results"/>
| income_year = 
| net_income = {{increase}} {{GBP|435 million}} (2024)<ref name="results"/>
| net_income_year = 
| assets = {{increase}} {{GBP|6,892 million}} (2024)<ref name="results"/>
| equity = {{increase}} {{GBP|4,063 million}} (2024)<ref name="results"/>
| num_employees = 17,612 (2023)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://plc.pearson.com/sites/pearson-corp/files/pearson/annual-report-2023/2023-annual-report-and-accounts.pdf |title=Annual Report 2023 |publisher=Pearson plc |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref>
| industry = {{hlist|Education|[[Mass media]]}}
| products = Educational materials (books, tests), Television distribution
| services = {{hlist|Educational assessment|school management|higher education}}
| subsid = {{hlist|[[Pearson Education]]|[[Edexcel]]}}
| website = {{URL|https://plc.pearson.com/}}
}}

'''Pearson plc''' is a multinational corporation, headquartered in the UK, focused on educational publishing and services.

Originating in 1844 and named '''S. Pearson and Son''' by [[Samuel Pearson]] in 1856, what began as a small local [[civil engineering]] business in [[Yorkshire]] grew between 1880 and 1927 into a massive diversified international conglomerate under the subsequent leadership of Samuel's grandson [[Weetman Pearson]].<ref>{{cite web |title=S. Pearson & Son Ltd |url=https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap10/s-pearson-son-ltd |website=sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref> By the time of World War II, the company had major national and international subsidiaries in manufacturing, electricity, oil, coal, banking and financial services, publishing (periodicals and books), and aviation.

After the Second World War and the British government's nationalisation of many industries, Pearson refocused on publishing and media. In 1984 the company changed its name from S. Pearson & Son plc to '''Pearson plc'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=PEARSON PLC |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00053723 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION |url=https://plc.pearson.com/sites/pearson-corp/files/pearson/archive/memorandum-of-association-2009.pdf |website=plc.pearson.com |publisher=PEARSON plc |access-date=22 February 2024 |page=1 |date=October 2009}}</ref> Under the leadership of CEO [[Marjorie Scardino]], in 1998 Pearson PLC formed [[Pearson Education]], and by 2016, Pearson education was Pearson plc's exclusive focus. As of 2023 Pearson Education, known since 2011 as simply Pearson, is Pearson plc's main subsidiary.<ref name="Pearson PLC AR2022"/> Pearson owns one of the GCSE [[Examination boards in the United Kingdom|examining boards]] for the UK, [[Edexcel]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses.html |title=Edexcel GCSEs &#124; Pearson qualifications |website=qualifications.pearson.com}}</ref>

Pearson plc has a primary listing on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and is a constituent of the [[FTSE 100 Index]]. It has a secondary listing on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] in the form of [[American depositary receipt]]s.

== History ==
<!-- S. Pearson & Son redirects here -->

=== Civil engineering businesses 1844 to 1925 ===
In 1844 [[Samuel Pearson]] became an associate partner in a small brickmaking and contracting [[civil engineering]] company in [[Huddersfield]], [[West Yorkshire]].<ref name="IDCH"/><ref>{{cite book |first=Paul |last=Garner |title=British Lions and Mexican Eagles: Business, Politics and Empire in the Career of Weetman Pearson in Mexico, 1889-1919 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wSDMDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT51 |date=2011 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=978-0804774451}}</ref> In 1856 Pearson's eldest son George entered the business, which became known as '''S. Pearson & Son''', "sanitary tube and brickmakers and contractors for local [[public works]] in and around [[Bradford]]".<ref name="IDCH"/> In 1880, control passed to Samuel's grandson [[Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray|Weetman Dickinson Pearson]] (later 1st Viscount Cowdray), an engineer, who in 1890 moved the business to London and turned it into one of the world's largest construction companies.<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.pearson.com/about-us/our-history.html |title=Our History |website=pearson.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015023257/http://www.pearson.com/about-us/our-history.html |archive-date=15 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Another of its prominent engineers was [[Ernest William Moir]] who, after working for Pearson on tunnels in [[New York City]], became the contractor's agent on construction of the [[Blackwall Tunnel]] under the River Thames in London between 1892 and 1897.<ref name="Blackwall">{{cite web |url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1345 |title=Engineering Timelines – Blackwall Road Tunnel, northbound |website=engineering-timelines.com}}</ref><ref name="History">{{cite web |url=https://greenwichpeninsulahistory.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/centenary-of-the-opening-of-the-blackwall-tunnel/ |title=Centenary of the opening of the Blackwall Tunnel |website=greenwichpeninsulahistory.wordpress.com |publisher=Greenwich Peninsula History |date=30 July 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=46543 "Southern Blackwall: The Blackwall Tunnel", Survey of London - volumes 43 and 44: Poplar, Blackwall and Isle of Dogs (1994), pp. 640–645], accessed 17 March 2013.</ref>

Between 1880 and 1902 the company also built the Admiralty Harbour at [[Dover]], the [[City of Halifax|Halifax]] Dry Dock in Canada, the [[East River Tunnels|East River Railway Tunnels]] in [[New York City]], the Mexican Grand Canal that drained [[Mexico City]], the [[Ferrocarril Transístmico|Tehuantepec Railway]] in [[Mexico]], and railways and harbours around the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Weetman Dickinson Pearson |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Weetman_Dickinson_Pearson |website=gracesguide.co.uk |publisher=Grace's Guide To British Industrial History}}</ref><ref name="fundinguniverse">{{cite web |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/pearson-plc-history/ |title=Pearson plc History |website=fundinguniverse.com |access-date=26 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="IDCH"/>

In November 1915, the firm began construction of [[HM Factory, Gretna]], the largest [[cordite]] factory in the UK during [[World War I]].<ref name="s">[[J. A. Spender]], ''Weetman Pearson - First Viscount Cowdray'', (London, [[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell and Company]], 1930).</ref>

The construction business was shut down in the 1920s.<ref name="fundinguniverse"/><ref name="IDCH"/> Its final projects included construction of the [[Silent Valley Reservoir]] in Northern Ireland (contract awarded in 1923),<ref name="BBCPt2">{{cite web |title=A Century of Water from the Mournes - Part 2 - A concise history - The Silent Valley Reservoir - 1910–1933 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/down/A1068527.shtml |access-date=25 June 2020 |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=16 October 2014}}</ref> and completion of the [[Sennar Dam]], in Sudan, in 1925.<ref name="Engineer">"The Sennar Dam and the Gezira Irrigation Scheme", ''[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/a/a2/Er19240926.pdf The Engineer]'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104190643/http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/a/a2/Er19240926.pdf |date=4 January 2015}}</ref>

=== Manufacturing businesses 1856 to 1993 ===
In 1856, S. Pearson & Son advertised itself as manufacturing sanitary tubes and bricks in Yorkshire.<ref name="IDCH"/> Manufacturing expanded beyond sanitary tubes and bricks to include a variety of items globally, including nuts and bolts, specialist glass, pottery, porcelain and fine china, and related items.<ref name="IDCH"/>

Pearson acquired Allied English Potteries (including [[Royal Crown Derby]]) in 1964<ref>{{cite web |last1=Birks |first1=Steve |title=Allied English Potteries Ltd |url=https://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/19c.htm |website=thepotteries.org |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref> and [[Royal Doulton|Doulton & Co.]] in November 1971, whereupon it merged those two potteries companies.<ref name="potteryhistories">{{cite web |last1=Perry |first1=Mike |title=Royal Doulton |url=https://potteryhistories.com/doultonhistory.html |website=potteryhistories.com |access-date=12 February 2024 |date=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Doulton Company Records |url=http://www.archives.staffordshire.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=G272%2F2 |website=archives.staffordshire.gov.uk |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref> Pearson purchased the [[Fairey Aviation Company|Fairey Group]] in 1980, and its engineering was merged with Doulton's industrial ceramics engineering.<ref name="doultonusa">{{cite web |title=Doulton |url=https://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/history.htm |website=doultonusa.com |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>

Pearson sold Doulton Glass Industries Ltd in 1982.<ref name="IDCH"/><ref name="doultonusa"/> The Fairey Group became independent of Pearson in 1986 via a management buy-out.<ref name="doultonusa"/> As Pearson refocused on its core publishing and media industries, it divested Royal Doulton, which was its remaining fine china division and the last of Pearson's manufacturing assets, in 1993.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pearson Announces Spinoff of Royal Doulton |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/12/business/company-news-pearson-announces-spinoff-of-royal-doulton.html |access-date=12 February 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=12 November 1993}}</ref><ref name="potteryhistories"/>

=== Electricity businesses 1900 to 1960 ===
The conglomerate entered the electrification market in 1900, when Weetman Pearson was requested to electrify Mexico's tramway system, and then the general electrical supply in the city of [[Veracruz (city)|Vera Cruz]] and elsewhere.<ref name="IDCH"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Cate |title=Records of S. Pearson and Son circa 1870–1955 |url=https://archives.sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk/Documents/SCM/Finding%20Aids/Named%20Archives/PEAR.pdf |website=sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk |publisher=[[Science Museum at Wroughton]] |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref> This process was repeated in Chile.<ref name="IDCH"/> These electrical interests were consolidated into Whitehall Electric Investments Ltd in 1922.<ref name="IDCH"/>

In 1929 the electricity businesses in Mexico and Chile were sold, but similar electricity utilities were developed in southwestern England until they were nationalised in 1948.<ref name="IDCH"/>

All of Pearson's overseas electricity utility businesses, which had spread to Greece, were closed by 1960.<ref name="IDCH"/>

=== Oil businesses 1901 to 1989 ===
While building the [[Tehuantepec National Railway]] in Mexico for President [[Porfirio Diaz]], Weetman Pearson learned of oil deposits in south Texas and Mexico and in 1901 began buying prospective oil lands in those places.<ref name="Yergin230">Yergin, Daniel, "The Prize, The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power", [[Simon & Schuster]], 1991, pp. 230–232</ref> After striking oil in Mexico in 1908,<ref name="Emergence">{{cite web |last1=Bud Frierman |first1=Lisa |last2=Godley |first2=Andrew C. |last3=Wale |first3=Judith |title=Weetman Pearson in Mexico and the Emergence of a British Oil Major, 1901–1919 |url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/business/empd042-07.pdf |website=reading.ac.uk |publisher=[[University of Reading]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602131024/http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/business/empd042-07.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2016 |date=2007}}</ref> he founded the [[Mexican Eagle Petroleum Company]] in 1909 to handle all of S. Pearson and Sons' oil interests.<ref name="Emergence"/>

In 1919 the [[Shell plc|Royal Dutch Shell Group]] acquired a large share of, and management of, Mexican Eagle, and Pearson formed Whitehall Petroleum Corporation Ltd. to take over Pearson's oil interests and to prospect globally for oil.<ref name="IDCH"/> It established a major oil company in the U.S., [[Amerada Corporation]], in 1919.<ref name="IDCH"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Hoover's Handbook of American Business 2008, Volume 1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781573111201/page/422 422–424] |publisher=Hoover's |date=2007 |isbn=978-1-57311-120-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781573111201/page/422}}</ref> Amerada was compulsorily acquired by the British government in 1941 due to World War II; a small interest was reacquired by Pearson in 1945.<ref name="IDCH"/>

In the 1950s Pearson expanded its North American oil and gas interests, and in the 1970s also expanded them globally.<ref name="IDCH"/> By 1989, Pearson divested its oil and gas exploration activities and sold Whitehall Petroleum.<ref name="IDCH"/>

=== Banking and financial services 1919 to 1999 ===
In 1919, Pearson founded Whitehall Trust Ltd. as a finance and issuing house.<ref name="IDCH"/> In 1919 Pearson also acquired a 45% stake in the London branch of merchant bankers [[Lazard|Lazard Brothers]],<ref name="dragging">{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/dragging-lazards-into-the-21st-century-1102311.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/dragging-lazards-into-the-21st-century-1102311.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Dragging Lazards into the 21st century |author=Andrew Garfield |date=25 June 1999 |work=[[The Independent]] |location=London}}</ref> an interest which was increased to 80% in 1932 during the depression years.<ref name="dragging"/>

In 1976 Pearson acquired a stake in Embankment Trust Ltd.<ref name="IDCH"/>

By 1990 Pearson's stake in Lazard Brothers was reduced to 50% following Lazard's internationalization to Paris and New York,<ref name="dragging"/> and Pearson acquired 10% stakes in the two overseas branches.<ref name="IDCH"/>

In 1999, due to the company's refocus on education, publishing, and media, Pearson sold its Lazard holdings for £410 million.<ref name="IDCH"/><ref name="dragging"/>

=== Coal businesses 1921 to 1947 ===
Following Wheetman Pearson's 1907 creation of [[Whitehall Securities]] as its holding company for all of Pearson's non-contracting industries,<ref name="IDCH"/> beginning in 1921 Pearson partnered with [[Dorman Long]]<ref name="kent pdf"/> to form a coal-mining conglomerate in 1922,<ref name="IDCH"/><ref name="kent pdf">{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=W. |title=The Development of the Kent Coalfield, 1896–1946 |url=https://kar.kent.ac.uk/86510/1/602431.pdf |website=kar.kent.ac.uk |publisher=[[University of Kent at Canterbury]] |access-date=11 February 2024 |date=October 1972}}</ref><ref name="Grace S">{{cite web |title=S. Pearson and Son |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/S._Pearson_and_Son |website=gracesguide.co.uk |publisher=[[Grace's Guide]] |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref> called Pearson & Dorman Long Ltd.<ref name="NA Pearson Dorman">{{cite web |title=Pearson & Dorman Long Ltd, colliery owners |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F183159 |website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk |publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref> The company purchased and operated many [[colliery|collieries]] in the UK through at least 1947.<ref name="Grace S"/><ref name="NA Pearson Dorman"/>

=== Publishing businesses 1921 to 1997 ===
In 1921, Pearson purchased a number of local daily and weekly newspapers in the United Kingdom, which it combined to form the [[Westminster Press (Pearson subsidiary)|Westminster Press]]  group.<ref name="history"/>

Following the British government's acquisition and nationalisation of several of Pearson's aviation, fuel, and energy divisions in the early 1940s due to World War II,<ref name="IDCH"/><ref name="Grace S"/> In 1953 [[Angela Pearson|Angela Murray]] (née Pearson) became a director of the Pearson group and the chair of the Westminster Press, which owned local newspapers including the ''[[Oxford Mail]]'', ''[[The Northern Echo]]'' and the ''Brighton Evening News'', and with the backing of the Westminster Press they were encouraged to find local news.<ref name="angela">{{Citation |last=Moss |first=Michael S. |title=Preston [née Pearson; other married name Murray], Angela Campbell (1910–1981), businesswoman, landowner, and conservationist |date=13 June 2024 |work=[[Dictionary of National Biography|Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]] |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-63965 |access-date=28 June 2024 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |language=en |doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.63965 |isbn=978-0-19-861412-8|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 1957, it bought the ''[[Financial Times]]''<ref name="history"/> and acquired a 50% stake in ''[[The Economist]]''. It purchased the publisher [[Longman]] in 1968.<ref name="history"/>

Pearson was first listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in 1969.<ref name="history"/>

It bought the paperback publisher [[Penguin Books]] in 1970,<ref name="history"/> and the children's imprint [[Ladybird Books]] in 1972.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Butt |first1=Stephen |title=Loughborough Through Time |date=2013 |publisher=[[Amberley Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-4456-1549-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IvnBBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT11}}</ref> It bought a rival, the educational publisher [[Pitman Ltd]], in 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pitman Ltd |url=https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap3816/pitman-ltd |website=collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk |publisher=[[Science Museum Group]] |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>

In 1996 Pearson sold [[Westminster Press (Pearson subsidiary)|Westminster Press]] to [[Newsquest]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pearson Sees Profits Fall 40 Percent, Selling Westminster Press Unit |work=[[Associated Press News]] |date=5 August 1996 |access-date=23 August 2014 |url=https://apnews.com/33080e847a4d32a788a4e5c48b5f9d69}}</ref> acquired the education division of [[HarperCollins]] from [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]],<ref>{{Cite web |issn=0362-4331 |last=Gilpin |first=Kenneth N. |title=Pearson to Buy a Publisher From News Corp. |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=23 August 2014 |date=10 February 1996 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/10/business/pearson-to-buy-a-publisher-from-news-corp.html}}</ref> and acquired book publishers [[Scott Foresman|Scott Foresman & Co.]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fabrikant |first1=Geraldine |last2=Myerson |first2=Allen R. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/18/business/simon-schuster-in-sale-to-british.html |title=Simon & Schuster In Sale To British |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=18 May 1998 |access-date=21 December 2016}}</ref>

=== Aviation businesses 1929 to 1959 ===
In 1929, Pearson's Whitehall Securities [[Whitehall Securities#Aviation interests|entered the aviation field]], purchasing an interest in [[Airwork Services]].<ref>''The ATL-98 Carvair: A Comprehensive History of the Aircraft and All 21 Airframes (Part 1: Getting off the ground – Airwork''), p. 14</ref>

By 1935 Whitehall Securities had major interests in a number of British airlines and aviation companies, including [[Spartan Air Lines]], [[Saunders-Roe]], [[United Airways Limited|United Airways]], and [[Hillman's Airways]].<ref name="Airways">''Airways (The Archive: The Legacy of BOAC (Pt. 1)''), p. 62</ref> In September 1935, Hillman's Airways, Spartan Air Lines, and United Airways merged to form [[British Airways Ltd]]<ref name="Airways"/> In 1936, British Airways absorbed [[British Continental Airways]] and [[Crilly Airways]].<ref name="Airways"/> In 1940, British Airways was nationalised due to World War II.<ref name="Airways"/>

In 1937 the company acquired [[Northern & Scottish Airways]] and [[Highland Airways Limited|Highland Airways]], and merged them into a new company, [[Scottish Airways]].<ref name="Bao">{{cite book |last1=Lo Bao |first1=Phil |last2=Hutchison |first2=Iain |title=BEAline to the Islands |date=2002 |publisher=Kea Publishing |location=Erskine, Scotland |isbn=0951895842 |page=99 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z5JZ9GBTZwwC |access-date=25 June 2020}}</ref> This airline was nationalised by the British government in 1947 and merged into [[British European Airways]].<ref name="Bao"/>

Pearson's aviation interests ended by 1959, when Saunders-Roe was sold to [[Westland Aircraft]].<ref name="IDCH">{{cite book |editor1-last=Long |editor1-first=Steven |editor2-last=Jacques |editor2-first=Derek |editor3-last=Kepos |editor3-first=Paula |title=International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 207 |date=2019 |publisher=[[St. James Press]] / [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] [[Cengage]] |chapter=Pearson plc |oclc=1066283259}}</ref>

=== Entertainment media businesses 1978 to 2002 ===
For several decades, Pearson had owned [[Chessington World of Adventures|Chessington Zoo]] in Greater London. In 1978, the company were approached by [[Madame Tussauds]] in London, who also owned [[Warwick Castle]] and [[Wookey Hole Caves]], to purchase the zoo and so were acquired by Pearson to place Chessington under Tussauds' ownership.<ref name="Chessington History">{{cite web |title=Chessington History |url=https://www.chessington.com/our-company/history/ |website=Chessington World of Adventures |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>

In 1981 Pearson's publishing subsidiary [[Pearson Longman]] established Goldcrest Films and Television in 1981, led by the founder of [[Goldcrest Films]], John Eberts, and chaired by James Lee, chief executive of Pearson Longman.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Dennis |date=3 July 1981 |title=Pearson builds on Trident deal |page=15 |website=newspapers.com |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |publication-place=United Kingdom |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58551234/the-guardian/ |access-date=2 September 2020}}</ref> At its inception, the new concern owned 40% of Goldcrest Films.<ref name=":0"/>

Pearson's newly formed subsidiary [[The Tussauds Group]], then consisting of the Madame Tussauds wax exhibitions, Warwick Castle and Wookey Hole, redeveloped Chessington Zoo into Chessington World of Adventures theme park, opened in 1987, and subsequently purchased [[Alton Towers]] theme park in Staffordshire in 1990. In 1998, Pearson sold the Tussauds Group to venture capital firm Charterhouse Development Capital for £352m, ending their involvement in the visitor attractions business.<ref name="BBC Tussauds sale">{{cite web |title=No more fun and games for Pearson |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/196440.stm |website=BBC News |access-date=29 August 2025 |date=19 October 1998}}</ref>

In 1986, Pearson invested in the [[British Satellite Broadcasting]] consortium, which a few years later merged with [[Sky Television (1984–1990)|Sky Television]] to form a new company, [[Sky UK|British Sky Broadcasting]] (BSkyB).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/237074.stm |title=Granada and Pearson sell BSB stake |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=17 December 1998 |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref>

During the 1990s, the company acquired a number of TV production and broadcasting assets, including former [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] franchisee [[Thames Television]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/pearson-looks-for-foreign-tv-station-agreed-bid-for-thames-values-the-programme-maker-at-pounds-99m-1457057.html |title=Pearson looks for foreign TV stations Agreed bid for Thames values the programme maker at 99m |first=Patrick |last=Hosking |work=[[The Independent]] |date=23 April 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/media-how-thames-turned-the-tide-from-failed-franchisee-to-thriving-indie-producer-there-can-be-life-1392970.html |title=How Thames turned the tide: From failed franchisee to thriving "indie" producer: there can be life after broadcasting death, as Richard Last witnessed |first=Richard |last=Last |work=[[The Independent]] |date=9 February 1994 |access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref> Australian production company [[Reg Grundy Organisation|Grundy Television]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Dawdtrey |first=Adam |url=https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/pearson-goes-global-via-grundy-purchase-99127863 |title=Pearson goes global via Grundy purchase |periodical=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=3 April 1995 |access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=de Logu |first=Simona |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/03/29/Pearson-buys-Aussie-TV-production-firm/5979796453200 |title=Pearson buys Aussie TV production firm |agency=[[United Press International|UPI]] |date=29 March 1995 |access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/30/business/international-briefs-pearson-to-expand-in-tv.html |title=International Briefs; Pearson to Expand in TV |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=30 March 1995 |access-date=27 May 2022}}</ref> U.S. television company All American Communications Inc.,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/aanews.htm |title=ACQUISITION OF ALL AMERICAN BY PEARSON TO CREATE THE WORLD'S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION PRODUCER |publisher=Pearson Television |date=1 October 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000902080204/http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/aanews.htm |archive-date=2 September 2000}}</ref> Italian drama production company Mastrofilm,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article21.htm |title=PEARSON TELEVISION ACQUIRES ITALIAN PRODUCTION COMPANY |publisher=[[Fremantle (company)|Pearson Television]] |date=3 November 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000902075255/http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article21.htm |archive-date=2 September 2000}}</ref> European animation financer and distributor EVA Entertainment,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article27.htm |title=PEARSON TELEVISION ACCELERATES ANIMATION BUSINESS |publisher=[[Fremantle (company)|Pearson Television]] |date=2 February 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000528130535/http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/article27.htm |archive-date=28 May 2000}}</ref> and UK production company [[Talkback (production company)|Talkback Productions]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/pearson-close-to-talkback-acquisition/402103.article |title=Pearson close to Talkback acquisition |periodical=[[Screen International]] |date=14 April 2000 |access-date=29 May 2022}}</ref>

In 1994, Pearson acquired software publisher [[The Software Toolworks]] for US$462{{nbsp}}million,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/01/business/pearson-enters-multimedia-software-arena.html |title=Pearson Enters Multimedia Software Arena |first=Steve |last=Lohr |date=1 April 1994 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=29 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626222253/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/01/business/pearson-enters-multimedia-software-arena.html |archive-date=26 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and rebranded it [[Mindscape (company)|Mindscape]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aAgEAAAAMBAJ |title=TOP OF MIND |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=106 |issue=46 |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]] |date=12 November 1994 |page=90}}</ref> In 1998, Pearson sold Mindscape to [[The Learning Company (formerly SoftKey)|The Learning Company]] for US$150{{nbsp}}million, taking a $346 million loss on the sale.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pearson loses Mindscape |url=https://money.cnn.com/1998/03/06/deals/mindscape/ |website=money.cnn.com |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=6 March 1998 |access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>

In 2000, Pearson merged its television holdings with [[CLT-UFA]] to form the [[RTL Group]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Milmo |first1=Dan |title=RTL chief defends Pearson TV acquisition |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/sep/19/rtl.pearson |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=19 September 2001}}</ref> In 2002 it exited the industry entirely by selling its 22% stake in RTL to [[Bertelsmann]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pearson Completes Sale Of RTL Stake To Bertelsman |url=https://the-media-leader.com/pearson-completes-sale-of-rtl-stake-to-bertelsman/ |website=the-media-leader.com |access-date=9 February 2024 |date=1 February 2002}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_Dec_24/ai_81087547 |title=Pearson agrees to sell 22% stake in RTL Group |publisher=[[FindArticles]] |website=findarticles.com |access-date=18 April 2011 |date=2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104183852/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_Dec_24/ai_81087547 |archive-date=4 January 2009}}</ref>

=== Pearson Education and corporate refocus 1998 to 2016 ===
==== Scardino and new focus on education ====
[[Marjorie Scardino]], who was CEO of Pearson plc from 1997 to 2013, increasingly focused the conglomerate on education and on making education acquisitions.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Baird |first1=Dugald |last2=Sabbagh |first2=Dan |title=Pearson chief executive Marjorie Scardino to step down |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/03/pearson-marjorie-scardino-step-down |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=3 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Chozick |first1=Amy |title=Scardino, Chief of Pearson, to Step Down |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/business/media/scardino-ceo-of-pearson-to-step-down.html |access-date=9 September 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=3 October 2012}}</ref> In 1998, Pearson plc purchased the education division of [[Simon & Schuster]], which included [[Prentice Hall]], [[Allyn & Bacon]],<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Walsh |first1=Mark |title=Pearson Hopes To "Widen the Definition Of Education" |url=https://www.edweek.org/education-industry/pearson-hopes-to-widen-the-definition-of-education/2001/02 |access-date=9 September 2023 |publisher=[[Education Week]] |date=21 February 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Selingo |first1=Jeffrey J. |title=British Publisher Announces Plan to Buy Simon & Schuster's Textbook Division |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/british-publisher-announces-plan-to-buy-simon-schusters-textbook-division-103710/ |access-date=9 September 2023 |publisher=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]] |date=19 May 1998}}</ref> and parts of [[Macmillan Inc.]] including the Macmillan name.<ref name="dustbin">{{cite web |title=Macmillan Rises from the Dustbin |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/3303-macmillan-rises-from-the-dustbin.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |publisher=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=12 October 2007}}</ref><ref name="Arm Now">{{cite web |last1=Milliot |first1=Jim |title=Holtzbrinck's U.S. Arm Now Macmillan |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/612-holtzbrinck-s-u-s-arm-now-macmillan.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |publisher=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=9 October 2007}}</ref> Later in 1998 it merged Simon & Schuster's educational business with Addison Wesley Longman to form [[Pearson Education]].<ref name="Pearson Education launched">{{cite web |title=Pearson Education: World's Leading Education Business Is Launched |url=http://www.pearson.com/news/contents/headline/current/educate.htm/ |website=pearson.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990224164746/http://www.pearson.com/news/contents/headline/current/educate.htm/ |archive-date=24 February 1999 |date=30 November 1998}}</ref>

Pearson sold and divested most of its Simon & Schuster divisions in 1999.<ref>
* {{cite web |date=24 May 1999 |title=Pearson Sells Two Former S&S Units |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990524/32256-pearson-sells-two-former-s-amp-s-units.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}
* {{cite web |last=Milliot |first=Jim |date=31 May 1999 |title=Wiley, Kluwer Acquire Two Pearson Units |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990531/35347-wiley-kluwer-acquire-two-pearson-units.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}
* {{cite web |last=Milliot |first=Jim |date=31 May 1999 |title=Six Macmillan Library Kids Imprints Closed |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990531/40646-six-macmillan-library-kids-imprints-closed.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}
* {{cite web |date=28 June 1999 |title=Macmillan Library Units to Join Gale |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990628/34076-macmillan-library-units-to-join-gale.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}
* {{cite web |last1=Milliot |first1=Jim |last2=Baker |first2=John F. |date=5 July 1999 |title=IDG Books Buys Macmillan General Reference |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19990705/24783-idg-books-buys-macmillan-general-reference.html |access-date=15 October 2019 |website=publishersweekly.com}}
</ref>

In March 2000 Pearson acquired the illustrated reference publisher [[Dorling Kindersley]] and integrated it within Penguin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/696695.stm |title=Pearson buys Dorling Kindersley |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=31 March 2000 |access-date=29 December 2012}}</ref> It acquired National Computer Systems (NCS) in September 2000, entering the educational assessment and school management systems market in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.faqs.org/abstracts/Business-international/Pearson-to-acquire-NCS-for-$25-billion-Move-will-create-worlds-top-education-firm.html |title=Pearson buys NCS |website=faqs.org |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref>

In 2002, Pearson purchased [[Rough Guides]], the travel publisher, and brought it under Penguin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pearson Timeline |url=http://www.pearsonlongman.com/longman_greece/pearson_timeline.asp |website=pearsonlongman.com |access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref>

In 2003 it acquired [[Edexcel]],<ref name="marking">{{Cite web |author=Rebecca Smithers and Kevin Massy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jun/30/politics.schools |title=New marking fiasco |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=30 June 2003 |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref> a provider of qualifications in the UK, and in 2004 acquired about 80% stake in Meximerica Media Inc for the swelling U.S. Hispanic market.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB108207230225484474 |title=Pearson Acquires Newspaper Concern For Hispanic Market |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=16 April 2004}}</ref> Pearson purchased a series of other testing and assessment businesses, including Knowledge Technologies in 2004,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pearsonkt.com/company.shtml |title=Pearson Knowledge Technologies |website=pearsonkt.com |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715061505/http://www.pearsonkt.com/company.shtml |archive-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> AGS in 2005,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmafp/is_200506/ai_n14757442 |title=Pearson buys AGS Publishing for $270 million &#124; AFP &#124; Find Articles at BNET |date=3 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103222154/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmafp/is_200506/ai_n14757442 |archive-date=3 January 2009}}</ref> and Promissor in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6301535.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609182138/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6301535.html |url-status=dead |title=Peason buys Promissor |archive-date=9 June 2007 |website=publishersweekly.com}}</ref> It acquired National Evaluation Systems, a provider of customised state assessments for teacher certification in the US, in 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gazettenet.com/2006/04/26/nes-sold-global-company-licensing-tests-key?SESSa1e83f95fbc8e85404d6e6764114bd93=gnews |title=NES sold to global company |access-date=26 April 2006 |website=gazettenet.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507135623/http://www.gazettenet.com/2006/04/26/nes-sold-global-company-licensing-tests-key?SESSa1e83f95fbc8e85404d6e6764114bd93=gnews |archive-date=7 May 2013}}</ref> and acquired eCollege, a digital learning technology group, in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nagel |first=David |url=http://campustechnology.com/articles/2007/05/pearson-to-acquire-ecollege.aspx |title=Pearson To Acquire College |website=campustechnology.com |date=16 May 2007 |access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref>

It sold [[Silver Burdett]] Ginn Religion, a Catholic publishing division it operated under the [[Scott Foresman]] imprint, to [[RCL Benziger]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 September 2007 |title=RCL Publishing LLC ("RCL Benziger"), a CFM Religion Publishing Group LLC division, announced today that it has acquired the assets of Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, a Scott Foresman imprint, from Pearson Education |url=http://www.wicksgroup.com/newsContent.asp?pageID=77&newsID=15 |website=wicksgroup.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015420/http://www.wicksgroup.com/newsContent.asp?pageID=77&newsID=15 |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> In 2007 Pearson Education sold the Macmillan name to [[Holtzbrinck Publishing Group]],<ref name="dustbin"/><ref name="Arm Now"/> which had purchased Macmillan Publishing Ltd. in the late 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holtzbrinck |url=https://ulib.niu.edu/publishers/Holtzbrinck.htm |publisher=[[Northern Illinois University]] |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref>

In 2008 Pearson acquired [[Harcourt Assessment]] and [[Harcourt (publisher)|Harcourt Education International]] from [[Reed Elsevier]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pearson.com/news/2007/may/pearson-acquires-harcourt-assessment-and-harcourt-education-inter.html |title=Pearson acquires Harcourt Assessment and Harcourt Education International from Reed Elsevier |access-date=11 May 2013 |publisher=Pearson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214182021/http://www.pearson.com/news/2007/may/pearson-acquires-harcourt-assessment-and-harcourt-education-inter.html |archive-date=14 December 2012}}</ref> and merged them into Pearson Assessment & Information.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pearsonassessments.com/haiweb/Cultures/en-US/Site/Community/PostSecondary/NewsEvents/PressReleases/NewsRelease013008.htm |title=Pearson Completes Acquisition of Harcourt Assessment |access-date=16 July 2011 |publisher=Assessment & Information group of Pearson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327140816/http://www.pearsonassessments.com/haiweb/Cultures/en-US/Site/Community/PostSecondary/NewsEvents/PressReleases/NewsRelease013008.htm |archive-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In February 2008, Pearson announced the sale of its Pearson Data Management Division (formerly the scanner manufacturing and servicing division of NCS Inc.) to [[Optical answer sheet|Scantron]] Corporation (part of [[M&F Worldwide]]) which had been its main competitor.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Completes the Acquisition of Pearson's Data Management Business |publisher=Pearson plc |date=24 February 2008 |url=http://datamanagement.scantron.com/news/08-02-24.htm |access-date=8 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408093448/http://datamanagement.scantron.com/news/08-02-24.htm |archive-date=8 April 2008}}</ref>

In 2010, Pearson acquired the adult English training service Wall Street Institute<ref>{{cite web |last=Neilan |first=Catherine |url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/pearson-buys-wall-street-institute-92m-cash |title=Pearson buys Wall Street Institute for $92m in cash |date=29 July 2010 |website=thebookseller.com |access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref> and the school learning systems division of Sistema Educacional Brasileiro (SEB).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Browning |first1=Jonathan |last2=Saitto |first2=Serena |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-07-22/pearson-buys-sistema-educacional-brasileiro-learning-unit-for-499-million |title=Pearson Buys Sistema Learning Unit for $499 Million |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=22 July 2010 |access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref> Also in 2010, the company sold its 61% stake in Interactive Data to investment funds managed by [[Silver Lake Partners]] and [[Warburg Pincus]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Sweney |first=Mark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/may/04/paerson-idc-interactive-data-corporation |title=Pearson sells IDC stake for $2bn |date=4 May 2010 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref>

==== Pearson Education rebrands as Pearson (2011) and Pearson plc rebrands as education-only (2016) ====
Pearson Education was rebranded as simply Pearson in 2011.<ref name="About Us 2011">{{cite web |title=About Pearson |url=http://www.pearsoned.com/about-us/ |website=pearsoned.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013025843/http://www.pearsoned.com/about-us/ |archive-date=13 October 2011}}</ref>

In July 2011, Pearson announced the creation of [[Pearson College (UK)|Pearson College]], a British degree provider based in London.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gill |first=John |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=416714 |title=Royal Holloway to validate new Pearson degree |access-date=17 November 2012 |publisher=[[Times Higher Education]] |date=4 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/aug/14/ft-owners-pearson-plan-college?newsfeed=true |title=FT owners plan college for business degrees |access-date=17 November 2012 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=14 August 2012}}</ref> Also in 2011, Pearson acquired [[Connections Academy|Connections Education]] and agreed to sell its 50% stake in FTSE International Limited to the London Stock Exchange for £450 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Halliday |first=Josh |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/dec/12/pearson-to-sell-ftse-stake-450m |title=Pearson to sell FTSE stake for £450m |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref> In 2011, Pearson also increased its stake in TutorVista to 76%.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mark Sweney |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jan/18/pearson-tutorvista-india |title=Pearson buys controlling stake in TutorVista for $127m |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>

In May 2012 Pearson announced its acquisition of GlobalEnglish Corporation, an American [[Business English]] software and solutions company, in an all-cash transaction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pearson's world-leading English learning business strengthens its position in the corporate market |url=http://www.globalenglish.com/whoweare/newsroom/press_releases/782 |website=globalenglish.com |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707010743/http://www.globalenglish.com/whoweare/newsroom/press_releases/782 |archive-date=7 July 2012}}</ref>

In October 2012 Pearson entered into talks with rival conglomerate Bertelsmann, over the possibility of combining their respective publishing companies, [[Penguin Group]] and [[Random House]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/eaf8eaaa-1eac-11e2-be82-00144feabdc0 |title=Penguin and Random House in merger talks |publisher=[[Financial Times]] |date=25 October 2012}}</ref> and said it would merge Penguin Books with Bertelsmann's Random House to create the world's biggest consumer book publisher.<ref>{{cite web |last=Holton |first=Kate |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pearson-idUSBRE89S0C120121029 |title=Random, Penguin merging to form leading publisher |date=29 October 2012 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=1 July 2017 |archive-date=28 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128104202/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/29/us-pearson-idUSBRE89S0C120121029 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2013, following government changes to apprenticeship funding rules, Pearson sold its Pearson in Practice, a UK vocational training business, to [[West Nottinghamshire College]], which renamed it Vision Workforce Skills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wnc.ac.uk/About-Us/News-And-Events/Press-Release.aspx?PRID=629 |title=Training provider Pearson in Practice to transfer over to West Nottinghamshire College |date=21 February 2013 |website=wnc.ac.uk |publisher=[[Vision West Nottinghamshire College|West Nottinghamshire College]] |access-date=10 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402175647/http://wnc.ac.uk/About-Us/News-And-Events/Press-Release.aspx?PRID=629 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionworkforceskills.co.uk/ |title=Vision Workforce Skills |website=visionworkforceskills.co.uk |access-date=10 June 2013}}</ref>

In May 2013, Pearson announced a new restructuring plan to invest in digital learning and emerging markets, after predicting weaker earnings.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Young |first1=Sarah |title=Pearson sees 2013 flat, begins restructuring plan |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pearson-idUKBRE91O08I20130225 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108195815/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pearson-idUKBRE91O08I20130225 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2016 |access-date=18 January 2015 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=25 February 2013}}</ref> The change supported the decoupling of the Penguin consumer publishing business into a separate entity with Random House (forming [[Penguin Random House]]). The new structure combined the separate education companies, Pearson International and Pearson North America under one Pearson company and Pearson reorganised around three global lines of business – School, Higher Education and Professional. The Financial Times Group and Pearson English formed part of Pearson Professional.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Kathy |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324659404578500433025096180 |title=Pearson details restructuring |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=23 May 2013 |access-date=26 June 2013}}</ref>

In July 2014, the company announced it had cut 4,000 jobs, representing 10% of the company's workforce.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Orihuela |first1=Rodrigo |last2=Schweizer |first2=Kristen |title=Pearson cutting 4,000 jobs as first-half sales decline |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-25/pearson-first-half-sales-drop-6-5-percent-on-strength-of-pound.html |access-date=18 January 2015 |website=bloomberg.com |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=25 July 2014}}</ref>

Pearson announced in July 2015 that it had agreed to sell the FT Group, which includes business daily ''[[Financial Times]]'', to Japanese media group [[Nihon Keizai Shimbun|Nikkei]] for £844 million, or $1.32 billion. The sale does not include FT Group's London property at One Southwark Bridge.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d7e95338-3127-11e5-8873-775ba7c2ea3d |title=Nikkei to buy FT Group for £844m from Pearson |author=Henry Mance, Arash Massoudi and James Fontanella-Khan |publisher=[[Financial Times]] |date=23 July 2015 |access-date=28 July 2015}}</ref> Pearson retained the publishing rights to FT Press and licensed the trademark from Nikkei.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pearson FT Press |url=https://www.informit.com/promotions/pearson-ft-press-141135 |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=informit.com}}</ref> In August 2015, Pearson's sold its 50% stake in ''[[The Economist]]'' to the [[Agnelli family]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Pearson sells Economist Group stake |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=12 August 2015 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33878566 |access-date=12 August 2015}}</ref> who previously held 4.7% of the group.<ref name="BrandRepublic 2015-07-28">{{cite web |url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/article/pearson-sell-economist-group-stake/1357659 |title=Pearson to sell Economist Group stake |author=Omar Oakes |publisher=[[Haymarket Media Group|Brand Republic]] |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=28 July 2015}}</ref> The remaining 50% of The Economist Group is owned by the [[Schroders]], [[Cadbury family|Cadburys]] and the [[Rothschild family|Rothschilds]].<ref name="BrandRepublic 2015-07-28"/>

Following the sale of its financial news publications ''Financial Times'' and ''The Economist'' in 2015, Pearson plc rebranded in January 2016 to focus solely on education, and the corporation adopted a new logo,<ref name="rebrand">{{Cite web |last1=Cowdrey |first1=Katherine |title=Pearson rebrand to reflect 100% focus on education |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/pearson-rebrands-reflect-100-focus-education-319864 |access-date=12 September 2023 |publisher=[[The Bookseller]] |date=7 January 2016}}</ref> the [[interrobang]] (‽), a combination of a question mark and an exclamation point, meant to convey a "combination of excitement, curiosity and individuality"<ref name="rebrand"/> and "the excitement and fun of learning".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Logo: The Interrobang |url=https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/corporate/global/pearson-dot-com-v2/files/logos/Pearson_Guidelines_Logo.pdf |website=pearson.com |access-date=12 September 2023 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312102802/https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/corporate/global/pearson-dot-com-v2/files/logos/Pearson_Guidelines_Logo.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== 2017 to present ===
In July 2017, Pearson sold its Tutor Vista and Edurite lines of business to India-based education technology company, [[Byju's]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dhamija |first=Anshul |url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/byjus-acquires-tutorvista-and-edurite-from-pearson/47449/1 |title=Byju's acquires TutorVista and Edurite from Pearson |work=[[Forbes India]] |language=en |access-date=4 July 2017}}</ref> In July 2017, it also agreed to reduce its holding in Penguin Random House to 25%, by selling a 22% stake in the business to Bertelsmann.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pearson sells 22% stake in Penguin Random House |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40566637 |access-date=12 July 2017 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=11 July 2017}}</ref>

In August 2017 Pearson announced that it would cut 3,000 staff in an effort to save £300 million annually.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sweney |first=Mark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/aug/04/pearson-to-axe-3000-jobs-after-slump-at-main-us-business |title=Pearson to axe 3,000 jobs after slump at main US business |date=4 August 2017 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref> In August 2017 it also sold the language-training subsidiary Global Education to Chinese company Pu-Xin Education.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Heloise |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/pearson-sells-global-education-puxin-education-614566 |title=Pearson sells Global Education to Puxin for £62m |date=16 August 2017 |website=thebookseller.com |publisher=[[The Bookseller]] |access-date=12 September 2017}}</ref>

In 2019, Pearson sold its US K-12 courseware business to the private equity firm Nexus Capital Management,<ref>{{cite web |last=Wan |first=Tony |title=Finally Pearson Sells Its US K-12 Courseware Business — for $250 Million |publisher=[[EdSurge]] |access-date=13 October 2019 |date=18 February 2019 |url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-02-18-finally-pearson-sells-its-us-k-12-courseware-business}}</ref> which rebranded it as [[Savvas Learning Company]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Millward |first1=Wade Tyler |title=Former Pearson K-12 Courseware Business Rebrands as Savvas Learning |url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-10-29-former-pearson-k-12-courseware-business-rebrands-as-savvas-learning |website=[[EdSurge]] |access-date=1 February 2024 |date=29 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Molnar |first1=Michele |title=Pearson K12 Spinoff Rebranded as "Savvas Learning Company" |url=https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/pearson-k12-spinoff-rebranded-savvas-learning-company/ |website=marketbrief.edweek.org |date=6 May 2020 |access-date=1 February 2024}}</ref> Pearson also sold its remaining 25% stake in [[Penguin Random House]] to [[Bertelsmann]].<ref name="retire">{{Cite web |last=Calatayud |first=Adria |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pearson-ceo-to-retire-and-company-will-sell-remaining-penguin-random-house-stake-2019-12-18 |title=Pearson CEO to Retire and company will sell remaining Penguin Random House stake |website=marketwatch.com |publisher=[[MarketWatch]] |date=18 December 2019 |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

Pearson CEO [[John Fallon (businessman)|John Fallon]] retired from the company in 2020,<ref name="retire"/> and was succeeded by [[Andy Bird]] on 19 October 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pfeiffer |first1=Thomas |last2=Seal |first2=Thomas |title=Pearson Names Ex-Disney Executive as CEO, Ending Long Search |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/pearson-names-ex-disney-executive-as-ceo-ending-long-search/ar-BB18iFmv |access-date=24 August 2020 |publisher=[[MSN]] |date=24 August 2020}}</ref>

In December 2021, Pearson announced that [[Omid Kordestani]] had been appointed as the chairman of the board of directors,<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2021 |title=Pearson appoints Silicon Valley veteran Omid Kordestani as chair |publisher=[[Financial Times]] |url=https://www.ft.com/content/09f5c19a-0822-4b07-b2bb-69de223ae820 |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2021 |title=Pearson hires former Twitter exec Omid Kordestani as Chair Designate |url=https://www.cityam.com/pearson-hires-former-twitter-exec-omid-kordestani-as-chair-designate/ |access-date=18 May 2022 |website=cityam.com |language=en}}</ref> effective March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing our leaders |url=https://plc.pearson.com/en-GB/company/leadership |access-date=18 May 2022 |website=plc.pearson.com |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2022, Pearson announced it had acquired the online language learning platform, [[Mondly]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pearson reports 7% underlying sales growth as it acquires language learning platform Mondly |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/pearson-reports-7-underlying-sales-growth-as-it-acquires-language-learning-platform-mondly |access-date=29 April 2022 |website=thebookseller.com |publisher=[[The Bookseller]] |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2022, Pearson acquired ClutchPrep, which was renamed Channels and added to the Pearson website.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clutch Prep acquired by Pearson |date=12 April 2022 |url=https://refreshmiami.com/clutch-preps-journey-from-startup-to-exit-what-a-run-it-was/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Pearson Releases Curated Video & Practice Feature to Enhance Learning Experiences for All College Students |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pearson-releases-curated-video--practice-feature-to-enhance-learning-experiences-for-all-college-students-301599800.html}}</ref>

In September 2023, CEO Andy Bird announced his impending retirement.<ref name="Reuters new CEO">{{cite web |last1=Shabong |first1=Yadarisa |last2=Mathews |first2=Eva |title=Pearson names Microsoft executive Abbosh CEO as Bird retires |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/pearson-names-omar-abbosh-its-new-ceo-2023-09-20/ |access-date=19 February 2024 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=20 September 2023}}</ref> He was succeeded by Omar Abbosh, president of [[Microsoft]]'s Industry Solutions business,<ref name="Reuters new CEO"/> on 8 January 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Siampani |first1=Anna |title=Pearson Confirms Omar Abbosh will Assume the role of CEO in January |url=https://ceoworld.biz/2023/10/30/pearson-confirms-omar-abbosh-will-assume-the-role-of-ceo-in-january/ |website=ceoworld.biz |access-date=19 February 2024 |date=30 October 2023}}</ref>

== Organisational structure ==
Pearson plc is a [[holding company]], and conducts its business primarily through subsidiaries and other affiliates.<ref name="Pearson PLC AR2022">{{cite web |author1=Pearson plc |title=Form 20-F: Annual Report for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2022 |url=https://plc.pearson.com/sites/pearson-corp/files/pearson/files/pearson-form-20-f-fy22.pdf |website=plc.pearson.com |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] |access-date=19 February 2024 |date=31 March 2023}}</ref> As of December 2022, its main subsidiaries are:<ref name="Pearson PLC AR2022"/>
* Pearson Education Inc. (United States);
* Pearson Education Ltd. (United Kingdom);
* NCS Pearson, Inc. (United States).

According to the company's website, its business divisions consist of:<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Business Divisions |url=https://plc.pearson.com/en-GB/company/our-business-divisions |website=plc.pearson.com |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
* Assessment & Qualifications;
* Virtual Learning;
* English Language Learning;
* Workforce Skills;
* Higher Education.

== Criticism ==
Concerns exist around the amount of influence Pearson, being a commercial company, has on public education.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mansell |first=Warwick |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/jul/16/pearson-multinational-influence-education-policy |title=Should Pearson, a giant multinational, be influencing our education policy? |date=16 July 2012 |access-date=25 September 2013 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London}}</ref> Other concerns are around tax avoidance, high value contracts, and an instance of laying off teachers to offset the high costs of testing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wiredacademic.com/2011/10/pearson-draws-criticism-from-new-york-to-texas-justified-or-unjustified/ |title=Pearson Draws Criticism From New York to Texas... Justified? Or Unjustified? |date=24 October 2011 |access-date=25 September 2013 |website=wiredacademic.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928053128/http://www.wiredacademic.com/2011/10/pearson-draws-criticism-from-new-york-to-texas-justified-or-unjustified/ |archive-date=28 September 2013}}</ref> In 2017, more than six out of ten Pearson shareholders voted against the chief executive's pay package of £1.5 million after the company made a record loss.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mark Sweney |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/may/05/pearson-shareholders-reject-pay-revolt-john-fallon |title=Pearson shareholders reject chief executive's £1.5m pay package |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=5 May 2017 |access-date=6 May 2017}}</ref> Pearson US has been criticised for using offshore [[tax avoidance]] schemes involving a host of companies at a service address in Luxembourg.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tarek |first=Alia |url=https://www.world.tax/articles/when-pearson-us-took-a-tax-break.php |title=When Pearson US took a tax break – Courtesy of PwC |date=3 July 2015 |website=world.tax |access-date=2 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011073438/https://www.world.tax/articles/when-pearson-us-took-a-tax-break.php |archive-date=11 October 2016}}</ref>

Pearson owns [[Edexcel]], a British education and examination board.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Senior Management Team |url=http://www.edexcel.com/Aboutus/who-we-are/our-people/smt/Pages/home.aspx |publisher=[[Edexcel|Pearson Edexcel]]}}</ref> Edexcel has produced qualifications which link to Pearson texts, although Edexcel also continues to endorse textbooks published by other companies.<ref name="marking"/> Edexcel has also faced criticism over repeated leaks of exam material in consecutive years; police investigations into some of the incidents were referred to prosecutors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-48646188 |title=Edexcel launches investigation after A-level maths paper leaked online |date=15 June 2019 |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref>

In June 2010, Pearson plc received notification that the [[Libyan Investment Authority]] (LIA) founded by [[Muammar Gaddafi]]'s son [[Saif al-Islam Gaddafi]] as a sovereign fund had acquired 24.4 million shares within the company via [[Euroclear]]. On further investigation, Pearson said the LIA may have acquired an additional 2.1 million shares, resulting in a total interest of 26.5 million shares. At the time, this represented a major holding of 3.27% within the company and the investment was worth around £280 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sweney |first=Mark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/mar/01/pearson-libyan-investment-authority-stake |title=Pearson freezes stake held by Libyan Investment Authority |date=1 March 2011 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=26 March 2016}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Companies|Books}}

* [[Bertelsmann]]
* [[Elsevier]]
* [[Holtzbrinck Publishing Group]]
* [[Lagardère Publishing]]
* [[McGraw Hill Education]]
* [[News Corp]]
* [[Scholastic Corporation]]
* [[Thomson Reuters]]
* [[Wiley (publisher)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Pearson plc}}
* [https://plc.pearson.com/ Official website]
* {{cite web |title=Pearson Timeline |url=http://www.ulib.niu.edu/publishers/index.htm |work=The Academic Publishing Industry: A Story of Merger and Acquisition |author=Mary H. Munroe |date=2004 |publisher=[[Northern Illinois University]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020160102/http://www.ulib.niu.edu/publishers/Pearson.htm |archive-date=20 October 2014}}

{{Pearson}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom|comporg}}
{{FTSE 100 Index constituents}}
{{Portal bar|Companies|London|Books}}

{{Authority control}}

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