Chris Whittle

Chris Whittle is founder and chairman of Edison Schools, Inc. Chris is also the author of Crash Course: Imaging a Better Future For Public Education, published in 2005. H. Christopher Whittle the Company's founder, is 55 years old and hasserved as Chief Executive Officer since July 1998. He served as President from March 1997 through July 2002. He has served as a director since 1992 and also served as the Company's Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1992 until March 1995. He is the President and sole stockholder of WSI Inc., a corporation wholly owned by Mr. Whittle with the current primary purpose of holding Mr. Whittle's personal investments. From 1986 to 1994, Mr. Whittle was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Whittle Communications L.P., which developed magazines and other print publications as well as Channel One, an advertising-supported daily news and information television program for schools. Before that, Mr. Whittle was the founder of 13-30 Corporation, the predecessor of Whittle Communications L.P., and served as the publisher of Esquire magazine from 1979 to 1986. In 2021, Chris Whittle lost his legendary East Hampton estate, Briar Patch, in a foreclosure auction. Whittle and his wife, photographer Priscilla Rattazzi, purchased Briar Patch in 1989 for $7.3 million and once listed the estate for $95 million. But since no one purchased, they lost the estate. His former company, Avenues: The World School, was awarded right and title to the property to help satisfy the more than $6 million Whittle owes the school.