Who We Are

Vision & Values

NYC English believes in opening the world to people through English: empowering them, connecting them and giving them the language skills and confidence to thrive in their careers and social life.

Our goal is to accelerate learning of conversational English by delivering a professional grade product that is easy-to-use, anytime, anywhere, and on any device.

With the world becoming increasingly reliant on digital technologies, we will provide the most comprehensive, immersive, and enjoyable digital learning experience.

Looking into the future, we will continue to enhance, deepen and expand the product range through digital learning innovations and pedagogical excellence.

Mark Emerson

President

The Founder

NYC English was founded by Mark Emerson, a C Level executive, who has successfully owned and managed global digital English language companies for the past 18 years.

Emerson entered the market in 2000 as President of Ellis Inc, an English language software company he expanded globally.

In 2006 he sold Ellis to the largest education company in the world, Pearson Education, who later asked Emerson to serve as VP over Global Digital English products.

He grew Pearson’s Digital English division significantly and expanded it across the world.

While working in many different countries he saw first hand the need for a radical new approach to learning English: one that combined the natural way people learn with mobile communications, bi-lingual teachers on-line and cutting edge 21st century software.

He saw that conversational English was a vital skill in an increasingly interconnected world and that confident command of spoken English was the key to people around the world having a better chance in life.

He concluded, “Most people feel they can’t communicate in English but want to. I felt that they can.”

So, with this in mind, Emerson founded NYC English in 2015.

After years of development the Software App is rapidly expanding across the world.

Key People

Thomas Irle

SVP, Acting COO

  • Managing Director, Educational Technologies Ltd.
  • Director, Time Life Asia
  • Vice President, Asia Universal Music
  • Masters in Business Administration, Hamburg University

Prabish Chandran

Chief Technology Officer

Anthony Pettifer

Brand strategy & design advisor

  • Founder and Managing Partner of Brandstorm Asia
  • 30+ years management and creative experience in the advertising and media industries
  • Head of New Business, Leo Burnett Asia Pacific
  • Master of Arts Degree, University of St Andrews

Dr. Yefei Jin

Academic Advisor

  • PhD Harvard University.
  • M.Ed. in Education Policy Harvard University.
  • B.A. in Asian Languages & TESOL University of Minnesota.

Brian Kofford, CPA, MAcc

Chief Financial Officer

  • Owner, Biesinger & Kofford CPAs, PLLC
  • Owner, Kofford & Associates, CPAs
  • Manager CPA, Bramble & Co
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Masters Degree in Taxation, Brigham Young University

Dr. David Christiansen

Instructional Design

  • Curriculum Developer – Pearson Education
  • Ph.D., Educational/Instructional Technology
  • Master of Education (M.Ed.) Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Bilingual Education

Our Vision

NYC English believes in opening the world to people through English: empowering them, connecting them and giving them the language skills and confidence to thrive in their careers and social life.

Our goal is to accelerate learning of conversational English by delivering a professional grade product that is easy-to-use, anytime, anywhere and on any device.

With the world becoming increasingly reliant on digital technologies we will provide the most comprehensive, immersive and enjoyable digital learning experience.

Our focus is on Asia, home to 60% of the world’s population, with high economic growth and a strong desire to learn English. Looking to the future we will continue to enhance, deepen and expand the product range through digital learning innovations and pedagogic excellence.

ANYTIME • ANYWHERE • ANY DEVICE