Prior to becoming CEO of Teach First, Russell was General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) in the United Kingdom from 2010-2017, following a career in the software industry and as a management consultant with Hay Group. NAHT is a professional association representing and protecting over 29,000 school leaders in every phase and context. Russell was born in Abingdon, Oxfordshire and attended St Nicholas Primary School, John Mason Comprehensive, and Oxford University. He lives in Brighton, England.