Blackboard Announces New General Manager
14 January, 2002
category: Education
excerpt from BlackBoard Trans@ction, 12/18/01
In an ongoing effort to expand and enhance all aspects of our operations, we are pleased to introduce Blackboard’s new General Manager of Commerce & Access Solutions and newest member of the Executive Management Team – Jim Hermens. Jim replaces Lowell Adkins, who has stepped down from his position as head of Phoenix operations to pursue opportunities outside of Blackboard. Lowell remains attached to Blackboard in an advisory capacity, where he will continue to offer his extensive industry expertise to our efforts.
In his new role, Jim reports directly to Steve Hoffman, President & COO, and is charged with accelerating Commerce & Access growth and continuing to closely integrate our Transaction System products and services with the full suite of Blackboard offerings.
Jim brings more than a decade of significant operational and business development experience to Blackboard from Hollinger International, a leading international publisher of English language newspapers. As the former Managing Director of Hollinger Digital in Washington, D.C., Jim has extensive experience in implementing new business strategies and providing company leadership within the education and media industries.
Prior to Hollinger, Jim served as the Director of Corporate Development for Sylvan Learning Systems, and later Vice President of Operations for Sylvan International Universities, where he first met and worked together with Steve. While at Sylvan, Jim spearheaded Sylvan’s launch into the international, for-profit higher education business, implementing cross-campus enrollment growth, curricular, and auxiliary services efforts in Europe and Latin America.
Prior to joining Sylvan, Jim consulted for Boston Consulting Group and Cannon Associates in the United States and the former Soviet Union in industries including telecommunications, financial services, energy, and consumer products. Jim is also a former Air Force officer and served as a Russian linguist in support of INF Treaty arms control monitoring in the former Soviet Union. A veteran of Desert Storm, he also served as a White House Military Aide under Presidents Bush and Clinton.