Skillsoft names Bernard Barbour as new tech chief
Skillsoft has appointed Bernard Barbour as Chief Technology and Product Officer, placing him in charge of technology and product strategy for the company's Percipio platform.
Barbour will lead the development of Skillsoft Percipio as a unified skills management system. The company said the platform links skills, learning and workforce capability with business needs.
Barbour will report to Skillsoft Chief Executive Officer Ron Hovsepian.
Skillsoft positions itself as a provider of skills management software and learning content. It sells tools for skills intelligence and workforce insights, alongside a catalogue that spans leadership, technology and compliance training. The company said it works with thousands of organisations and includes 60% of the Fortune 1000 among its customers.
Leadership background
Skillsoft said Barbour has built and scaled engineering, AI, data and product teams. He most recently served as Chief Technology Officer at Indigo Agriculture. Skillsoft said he led modernisation work there. The company said that work improved core platforms and strengthened data operations.
Before Indigo, Barbour spent more than a decade at Cimpress, according to Skillsoft. The company said he led a global platform team of more than 700 people. It also said he oversaw content creation tools, design technologies and personalisation systems used by millions of customers worldwide.
The appointment arrives as large employers review how they manage skills data, internal mobility and training spend. The market includes specialist skills platforms and human capital management suites that have expanded their learning and skills modules. Vendors have also increased their focus on AI tools that classify skills, recommend learning and summarise workforce gaps.
Percipio focus
Skillsoft described Percipio as part of its skills management approach. The company said the system connects skills and learning with workforce capability.
Barbour will lead product and technology work tied to that platform. Skillsoft said his remit includes the "continued evolution" of Percipio. The company framed this as part of a wider push towards a skills-based workforce model.
Skillsoft also said Barbour brings experience in AI, cloud platforms and enterprise SaaS. The company did not disclose changes to other members of its technology or product leadership team.
In a statement, Hovsepian linked the hire to customer demand for workforce readiness and the use of AI in skills management.
"Bernie joins Skillsoft at a pivotal moment as organizations reimagine how they prepare their people for constant change," said Ron Hovsepian, Chief Executive Officer, Skillsoft. "He brings strong, hands-on experience building and applying AI at scale, turning customer needs into measurable outcomes. His leadership will help us accelerate innovation and deliver AI-powered capabilities that make it easier for organizations to build, adapt, and sustain workforce readiness."
Skillsoft said Barbour will take a customer-led approach as he joins the executive team.
"Customers are trying to move faster while navigating fragmented tools and growing complexity," said Mr. Barbour. "My focus is on listening closely, understanding what's getting in their way, and helping deliver solutions that make progress easier to achieve. Skillsoft has a strong foundation, and I'm excited to work with the team to build on it in ways that create real value for customers."
The company said Barbour's leadership will sit alongside its existing focus on learning content and skills intelligence, as enterprises look for clearer links between training activity, skills development and business requirements.
Skillsoft said Barbour will start work on the technology and product roadmap for Percipio and related skills management offerings under Hovsepian's leadership.