Akhil Yerneni is a Partner at Anderson Quigley (AQ) and leads much of the firm’s work across commercial, private, and investor-backed higher education markets in the UK and internationally. His remit covers both interim and permanent leadership appointments across professional and academic services.
Since joining AQ in 2019, Akhil has personally led and delivered more than 300 leadership and executive appointments for over 100 universities and higher education institutions within the UK and beyond. Working closely with boards, founders, and executive leadership teams, he specialises in building leadership teams for challenger higher education institutions, often supporting them at key moments of institutional development, including change and transformation, market entry, diversification, mergers and acquisitions, crisis leadership, international expansion, and sustainable organisational growth.
With a particular focus on appointing leaders capable of combining regulatory awareness and rigour with commercial and operational expertise, Akhil is committed to identifying diverse leadership talent and helping to shape the next generation of higher education leaders. Through his work across public universities and private and commercial higher education institutions, he has developed a nuanced perspective on the evolving intersection between education, investment, and the expansion of higher education in the UK and international markets.
Prior to a career in executive search and interim leadership, Akhil began training as a solicitor and holds an LLB (Hons) in Law. Outside of work, Akhil enjoys live music, reading widely, engaging with film, and exploring new cultures through cuisine and travel.