Carl Lygo is the Principal of BPP University College of Professional Studies and Chief Executive Officer of BPP Holdings plc, the leading provider of private education and training to professionals in the legal, financial and business sectors as well as a leading independent 6th form College. In August 2009 BPP was acquired in a £303 million acquisition by US organisation Apollo Global, and became a university college in 2010.

Carl is a qualified and formerly practising Barrister with over 21 years’ experience in the education sector, having worked at BPP for the past 15 years, eight of which as a main board plc director. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Carl was the Chairman of BPP Law School and was instrumental in building the Law School from a turnover of less than £1 million to in excess of £50 million, and led the team to make BPP College the first “for profit” owned degree awarding provider in the UK. He was also behind the launch of BPP's Business School which was launched in 2009.

Carl was nominated by “The Lawyer” magazine as one of the “UK’s Hot 100 Lawyers”, having practised in the areas of personal injury and employment law. Carl was appointed a special education advisor to the Judicial Studies Board by the Lord Chief Justice and has been a member of a medical regulatory body at the appointment of the then Secretary of State for Education.

Prior to BPP, Carl was a lecturer in law at London Guildhall University, University of Leeds, City University London and the University of East Anglia, where he was also a research student.