Frank Maassen

Spear’s Review

Where global wealth flows, Dr Frank Maassen ensures Cognita flows alongside it. As CEO he oversees one of the world’s largest independent school groups: Cognita has more than 100 schools across 21 countries, educating over 100,000 students. 

Cognita’s strategy is straightforward and effective. It partners with prestigious British schools – including Brighton College, Repton School and Downe House – replicates their ethos abroad and delivers education that blends British prestige with global relevance. In doing so, Maassen has turned elite schooling into a portable asset – one that moves with families whose wealth and professional lives are increasingly international. For parents, enrolling their child in a Cognita-linked school means not just continuity of education, but continuity of status.

The company’s scale and strategy have inevitably drawn private equity attention. A planned €6 billion sale to Blackstone fell through earlier in 2025, but interest from global investment firms remains strong, with Cognita seen as a rare player capable of scaling brand-name education.

Through Maassen’s vision, Cognita has translated the allure of elite British schooling into a global touchstone for internationally mobile families, thereby creating a discreet and powerful force reshaping how wealth and prestige intersect in education.

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