ðə ɹᵻspˈɑːns tə ðɪ ˌoʊˌɛftˈiː ɪnvˌɛstɪɡˈeɪʃən wʌz kˈoʊˈɔːɹdᵻnəɾᵻd baɪ ðɪ ˌɪndᵻpˈɛndənt skˈuːlz kˈaʊnsəlz tʃˈiːf ɛɡzˈɛkjuːtˌɪv, dʒˈɑːnəθən ʃˈɛfɑːɹd, wɪð ɐ nᵻɡˈoʊʃɪˌeɪɾɪŋ tˈiːm ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ lˈɔːɹd nˈɪkələs lˈaɪɛl, ðə fˈɔːɹmɚɹ ɐtˈɜːni dʒˈɛnɚɹəl; ðə səlˈɪsɪɾɚ ænd mˈiːdɪˌeɪɾɚ tˈoʊni wˈɪlɪs, ænd ðə bˈɪznəsmən sˌɜː bˈɑːb ɹˈiːd.
The response to the OFT investigation was co-ordinated by the Independent Schools Council's Chief Executive, Jonathan Shephard, with a negotiating team including Lord (Nicholas) Lyell, the former Attorney General; the solicitor and mediator Tony Willis, and the businessman Sir Bob Reid.