Skillsoft Corporation, a prominent provider of digital learning and talent management solutions, has announced the appointment of John Frederick as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Frederick will succeed Rich Walker, who is resigning to explore other opportunities. Walker will continue to serve in an advisory capacity until July 4, 2025, to facilitate a smooth transition.

Frederick brings over three decades of financial and operational leadership experience to his new role. He rejoined Skillsoft in August 2024 as Chief Transformation Officer, where he played a pivotal role in refining and initiating the company’s strategic plans aimed at enhancing growth, competitiveness, and efficiency. His prior tenure at Skillsoft includes serving as Chief Administrative Officer from 2018 to 2021, during which he led the finance team and served as CEO of SumTotal Systems, a Skillsoft business acquired by Cornerstone in 2022.

Frederick has held CFO positions at numerous companies, including Indigo Ag, Avid Technology, and Open Solutions. His extensive experience includes leadership roles in both private and public companies, ranging from startups to organizations with over $2 billion in revenue.

“John’s deep familiarity with Skillsoft, our market, and our team, as well as his experience leading finance organizations, make him a natural choice to serve as our next CFO,” said Ron Hovsepian, Executive Chair and CEO of Skillsoft. “John is a skilled operator who has a proven track record of leading transformations, instilling financial discipline, and driving profitable growth.”

In his new role, Frederick will oversee Skillsoft’s finance and legal functions, working closely with the senior leadership team to drive the evolution of the company’s business strategy, measurement, and operating plan execution.

“I am excited to be named CFO at this important time in our strategic journey,” Frederick stated. “We have made progress toward enhancing our operational execution to achieve improved profitability and positive free cash flow. I look forward to helping our team drive growth and enhance value while furthering our mission of unlocking human potential.”

Skillsoft’s leadership transition comes as the company continues to focus on delivering personalized, interactive learning experiences and enterprise-ready solutions. Skillsoft, with its AI-powered platform and extensive partner network, serves a global community exceeding 95 million learners. It collaborates with 60% of the Fortune 1000 to tackle critical business needs such as closing skill gaps and accelerating digital transformation.

The company expressed gratitude to Rich Walker for his significant contributions over the past four years. “Rich has been a key member of the Skillsoft management team, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” Hovsepian added.

Frederick’s appointment as CFO underscores Skillsoft’s commitment to strengthening its financial leadership and executing its strategic initiatives to drive long-term growth and shareholder value.