Primrose Schools® Expands Executive Team Amid Continued Growth

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Sep 12, 2016, 03:34 ET

ACWORTH, Ga., Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Primrose Schools^®, a high-quality early education and care franchise company with more than 300 schools across the country, has announced two new additions to its executive team. Annette Cannata Heng starts today as senior vice president of school excellence, and Sarah Funk will join Primrose on September 19 as vice president of talent and performance.

These newly-created positions are a result of the dynamic growth of Primrose Schools, which has experienced an average increase of 13.3 percent in system revenue in the past five years. The franchise company was recently ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States and was named the third best franchise to buy by Forbes in the $500,000+ category.

"Annette and Sarah are joining Primrose at an incredibly exciting time," said Jo Kirchner, CEO of Primrose Schools. "Our company is experiencing unprecedented momentum, and their talents, expertise and leadership will play an integral role as we continue to forge a path to a brighter future for all children."

As senior vice president of school excellence, Heng will lead strategic efforts to foster a brand-driven, high performance environment for Primrose School Franchising Company and the Primrose schools system. She has worked in education for more than 30 years, having previously served as a regional vice president for Aramark Education, among other roles for the company. Heng holds a bachelor's degree from National Louis University and a master's degree in education from Erikson Institute and Loyola University.

When Funk begins her role as vice president of talent and performance, she will develop strategies to sustain and strengthen Primrose leadership, brand culture and management capabilities for Primrose Schools Franchising Company, which includes franchise sales, development, operations and marketing. Funk has held numerous positions with the Nebraska Book Company, most recently serving as vice president of human resources. Her past experience also includes leadership roles with Target. Funk received her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Heng and Funk will report to Kirchner directly.

About Primrose Schools^®Founded in 1982, Primrose Schools is the nation's leader in providing a premier early education and care experience in more than 300 schools in 26 states. Each Primrose school is independently owned and operated by Franchise Owners who partner with parents to help children build the right foundation for future learning and life, and offer an environment that helps children have fun while nurturing Active Minds, Healthy Bodies and Happy Hearts^®. Primrose is the first early childhood education organization in the country to receive AdvancED Corporation Systems Accreditation under the new Standards for Quality Early Learning Schools. For more information, visit www.PrimroseSchools.com, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube, and explore our blog.