Skillsoft appoints Ron Kisling as Chief Financial Officer

Skillsoft has appointed Ron Kisling as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, as it advances its restructuring.

Kisling joins as the company moves forward with the sale of its Global Knowledge business. The appointment signals the next phase of Skillsoft's transformation after the transaction was signed.

He succeeds John Frederick, who is retiring and will remain in an advisory role through early September. Skillsoft said Frederick's retirement was unrelated to its financial or operating results and did not stem from any disagreement over financial, operational, accounting, or reporting policies or practices.

Kisling brings more than 40 years of finance experience, including 15 years as Chief Financial Officer at technology companies. Most recently, he held senior finance roles at Fastly and Fitbit. He has also served as Chief Financial Officer at Nanometrics, PGP Corporation, Saba Software, and SPL WorldGroup.

The appointment comes at a sensitive time for Skillsoft, which has been reshaping its business and simplifying its structure. In a separate announcement, the group said it had agreed to sell Global Knowledge to an affiliate of Enduring Ventures, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The disposal would further narrow Skillsoft's focus as it seeks to reposition the business around skills management and workplace learning. In recent quarters, the company has said it was changing its operating model while trying to improve growth.

Chief Executive Ron Hovsepian cast the hire as part of that effort to strengthen financial control during a period of change.

"Ron has built a strong track record of enhancing financial discipline and driving operational rigor, and we're confident he's the right leader for where we're headed," Hovsepian said.

He also linked the appointment to the work already under way inside the company.

"Over the past several quarters, we have repositioned the business, and Ron has proven skillsets to build on that progress and help lead our next phase. We remain focused on simplifying our operating model and accelerating growth," Hovsepian said.

For investors and employees, the arrival of a new finance chief often signals how a company plans to manage its next stage, particularly after a disposal and a broader internal reset. Kisling's background suggests Skillsoft is seeking a finance leader with experience at listed technology companies navigating expansion and organisational change.

His time at Fastly and Fitbit exposed him to rapid market shifts, investor scrutiny, and operational scaling. That experience may prove relevant as Skillsoft sharpens its focus following the sale of a business unit that has been part of its broader portfolio.

Skillsoft describes itself as a skills management company serving organisations that want to track workforce skills, close gaps, and measure learning outcomes. It says thousands of organisations use its platform worldwide, placing it in a market where companies are spending more on workforce training tied to artificial intelligence and digital change.

Kisling said that demand was part of what drew him to the role.

"I share the belief that skills are a critical business asset that should be managed with as much rigor as the rest of the balance sheet. I'm excited to help the company scale to support the demand for AI skilling and deliver real value for our customers," Kisling said.

In a separate comment on joining the company, he pointed to the changes already under way at Skillsoft and his intention to work with the existing leadership team.

"I am excited to join Skillsoft at this pivotal time. The Company has made important progress, and I look forward to working with Ron and the leadership team to build on the momentum underway and help drive the Company's next phase of growth and value creation," Kisling said.

Hovsepian also acknowledged the outgoing finance chief's contribution as the handover begins.

"We thank John for his leadership and contributions during his tenure and wish him the best," Hovsepian said.