Michael Hansen Email & Phone Number

• Since 2012, I have led the strategy, performance and ongoing evolution of a $1.4B education technology company that serves millions of learners in more than 120 countries every day. Milestones include:
• Leading the century-old education publisher through a successful Chapter 11 reorganization that helped pave the way for the company’s transformation from a struggling higher-ed print publisher, to now, a portfolio.
• Delivering consistent revenue and profitability growth over the last three years during a turbulent period in education, and amidst continued higher education enrollment declines.
• Being named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2020 for leadership in tackling the affordability crisis in higher education with the launch of Cengage Unlimited, the first-ever all-access digital.
• Evolving Cengage Group’s strategic approach by re-structuring the company into three business units. This revised model allows us to better meet the needs of our student and educator customers, simplify our business.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, I implemented an intentional focus on building trust and transparency, helping the organization navigate a heightened period of uncertainty and driving significant revenue growth for first.

New York, New York, US

• I led the strategic direction and operational performance of this $1.6B global healthcare information company with 3,100+ employees by:
• Developing and implementing a successful print–to–digital transition, notably the introduction of a truly groundbreaking reference product: “Clinical Key.”
• Transforming a traditional print publisher into an information-services company with an accelerated digital product development process.

• I turned around an unprofitable company to create a $300M business with 1500+ employees and ultimately executed a successful sale of the company by:
• Overseeing the rejuvenation of the company’s growth and the restoration of profitability through both new investments and strategic cost-cutting measures.
• Emphasizing a culture of accountability and leading change by example
• Executing a lucrative sale creating an industry-leading business.

Gütersloh, DE

• At this $20B global media company, I was responsible for the group-wide performance improvement initiative (BEX), including:
• Setting the future strategic direction for the 100,000+ employee business.
• Overseeing a dramatic turnaround in performance and profitability for the company’s lowest-performing business units.
• Identifying and executing large and mid-size merger, acquisitions, and divestitures.

US

At this $300M media and service technology company focused on e-business development, I served to globalize and professionalize Proxicom by transforming the company from its startup roots into a profitable, professionally-managed global service firm and supporting a successful sale of the business.

Boston, Massachusetts, US

As co-leader of Boston Consulting Group’ e-business and media practice, I was responsible for cultivating the firm’s capabilities in the early development of e-commerce and in establishing strategic external partnerships for the company. In a two-year period, we built the firm’s most successful global business practice area.

Mba, Business

Staatsexamen, Law