Upper management of Cengage Learning is about to get a complete makeover. Ron Dunn, CEO since 2007, will step down from that role later this year and move into the position of executive chairman. In addition, Cengage announced that David Shaffer will retire as company chairman as well as from the board of directors September 30. Dunn will make the transition following the appointment of his successor, and in a note, Cengage said the publisher “is in the advanced stages of a search to identify” Dunn’s replacement.
Dunn, who has served as Cengage CEO ever since the educational publisher was bought by Apax Partners, told PW he expects a new CEO to be in place within a few weeks. Given the changes taking place in publishing, the new CEO will be someone who has been through a digital transition, Dunn said. Dunn will serve has executive chairman for three years, to “work with his successor on strategic initiatives and general management matters,” Cengage said.
