"There is a very ambitious gentleman recently appointed Primary Head of one of the better international schools. He has effectively undermined his current Director and did his best to undermine the previous one. What to do, what to do......"

Evidently, from this example, undermining your director is what 'gets you ahead'. Does this example give validity to the fact that there are a host of incompetent directors out there and pointing it out sometimes works!

Be careful with Ambitious. If you can talk the talk and walk the walk, most people will forgive any other indiscretions...remember Bill Clinton?

International schools need to change. They need to weed out the lackeys, posers, and weak willed leaders who do not foster the need to provide a much different sense of teaching and learning than is currently in operation. Maybe your ambitious friend will help us do this?

Oprah is not the answer.