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April 30, 2015

Wiley Promotes John Semel to Chief Strategy Officer; Jeffrey Sugerman to Lead Combined Solutions Business

Hoboken, NJ

John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (NYSE: JWa and JWb), a global provider of knowledge and knowledge-enabled services that improve outcomes in research, professional practice, and education, today announced the promotion of John Semel to Chief Strategy Officer, effective immediately.   Mr. Semel, who has headed up Wiley Planning and Development since 2009, will be responsible for strengthening Wiley’s publishing businesses, building on recent acquisitions to expand solutions revenues, and continuing to drive acquisition and partnership strategies.  He will report to President and CEO Mark Allin. 

“John has been an influential architect of our strategy and has driven the acquisition of businesses – including Inscape, Deltak, Efficient Learning Systems, Profiles International, and CrossKnowledge – that have contributed significantly to our transformation and recent success,” said Mr. Allin.  “John’s experience as a business leader and strategist in the media and information industry means he is ideally suited for this new position.  He is widely respected at Wiley and beyond for his passion, dedication, and vision.”

Prior to joining Wiley, Mr. Semel was EVP, Business Development at The Weinstein Company, where he managed business development, strategic investment, and M&A for the American film studio.  Prior to that, he was VP, Strategy and Business Development for MTV Networks and SVP of Investments at eVerger, a joint venture between Warburg Pincus and Aegis Group.   He began his career as an equity analyst at JP Morgan. 

Wiley also announced the combination of its Talent Solutions (i.e. Assessment and Corporate Learning) and Education Services (i.e. Deltak) businesses under one leadership umbrella, and named Jeff Sugerman, SVP of Talent Solutions and Education Services to lead the organization.  Mr. Sugerman was previously the President and CEO of Inscape, which provides post-hire assessment solutions to organizations worldwide.  Wiley acquired the Company for $85 million in 2012.  Prior to that, he held leadership positions at Point Cloud and Pearson VUE.    

Said Mr. Allin: “The demand for learning and professional development has never been greater, and Wiley is at the forefront of meeting that need. We are helping to create world-class talent to match the demands of a changing world, enabling committed people to make a difference in research, industry, and education. To be successful in this space requires a focused, integrated offering that can bridge the gap between academic institutions and employers.  Jeff is the right person to lead this very important effort.  He has an exceptional track record in creating and leading certification and assessment businesses that make a real difference in the lives of customers.”

 

About Wiley

Wiley is a global provider of knowledge and knowledge-enabled services that improve outcomes in areas of research, professional practice, and education.  Through the Research segment, the Company provides digital and print scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising. The Professional Development segment provides digital and print books, online assessment and training services, and test prep and certification.   In Education, Wiley provides education solutions including online program management services for higher education institutions and course management tools for instructors and students, as well as print and digital content.