Pearson Chairman Set to Step Down This Year -- Source

   By Simon Zekaria 

LONDON--Pearson PLC (PSON.LN) Chairman Glen Moreno is set to leave toward the end of this year after a decade at the education specialist and publisher, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Pearson has appointed a headhunting firm to oversee the process of recruiting a successor for Mr. Moreno, 70 years old, who became chairman in 2005, the person said.

Pearson, which generates about 60% of its sales in the U.S., is pushing its education business in emerging markets. It generates more than three-quarters of its revenue from education, including textbooks and software for teachers and students in schools and higher education.

It also has high-profile consumer titles such as the salmon-colored Financial Times newspaper and owns 47% of publisher Penguin Random House.

At 0930 GMT, Pearson shares were up 0.4% at 1,326 pence in a lower market.

Dow Jones Newswires competes with Pearson in business news.

Write to Simon Zekaria at [e-mail]

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