Cybersecurity CEO Art Gilliland joins Skillsoft (NYSE: SKIL) board

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Skillsoft Corp. appointed Art Gilliland to its Board of Directors as a Class II director, effective March 25, 2026, filling a vacant seat. He will serve until the 2026 annual meeting, or until a successor is elected, and will sit on the Audit Committee while chairing the Talent and Compensation Committee.

Gilliland, a cybersecurity and enterprise software CEO, will receive an annual cash retainer of $50,000 for board service, $10,000 for Audit Committee service, and $25,000 for chairing the Talent and Compensation Committee, paid quarterly. He was granted 6,250 RSUs valued at $25,625 for expected service through the 2026 meeting and an additional 25,000 onboarding RSUs valued at $102,500 vesting in equal installments over three years, all subject to continued service. The Board has determined he is independent under NYSE and SEC standards.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 5.02, 9.01

2 items

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.

Key Figures

Board cash retainer: $50,000 per year Audit Committee retainer: $10,000 per year Committee chair retainer: $25,000 per year +5 more

8 metrics

Board cash retainer $50,000 per year Annual cash retainer for director service

Audit Committee retainer $10,000 per year Annual cash retainer for Audit Committee service

Committee chair retainer $25,000 per year Annual cash retainer for Chair of Talent and Compensation Committee

Initial RSU grant 6,250 RSUs; $25,625 value Grant for expected service from March 25, 2025 to 2026 annual meeting

Onboarding RSU grant 25,000 RSUs; $102,500 value Onboarding equity award vesting over three years from March 25, 2026

Industry experience 25+ years Gilliland’s experience leading global enterprise software and cybersecurity businesses

Fortune 1000 penetration 60% Share of Fortune 1000 companies using Skillsoft solutions

Learner base 105 million+ learners Global community supported by Skillsoft

Key Terms

restricted stock units, Audit Committee, Talent and Compensation Committee, indemnity agreement, +1 more

5 terms

restricted stock units financial

"Mr. Gilliland was granted an equity award of 6,250 restricted stock units"

Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.

Audit Committee financial

"The Board has also appointed Mr. Gilliland as a member of the Audit Committee"

A company's audit committee is a small group of board members who act like independent inspectors for the firm's finances, overseeing how financial reports are prepared, monitoring internal controls, and managing the relationship with external auditors. Investors care because a strong audit committee reduces the risk of accounting errors, fraud, or misleading statements, making financial statements more trustworthy and helping protect shareholder value.

Talent and Compensation Committee financial

"and as Chair of the Talent and Compensation Committee, effective March 25, 2026"

indemnity agreement financial

"Mr. Gilliland has entered into the Company’s standard form of indemnity agreement for directors"

AI-native skills management other

"Skillsoft (NYSE: SKIL), a leading AI-native skills management platform built for the human + AI era"

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 25, 2026

Skillsoft Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-38960	83-4388331
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

300 Innovative Way, Suite 2210

Nashua, NH 03062

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(603) 324-3000

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share	SKIL	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On March 25, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Skillsoft Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Skillsoft” or the “Company”), on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board, appointed Mr. Arthur Gilliland as a Class II director, effective immediately, to fill the vacant position on the Board. Mr. Gilliland will serve as a Class II director, with a term expiring at the Company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“2026 Meeting”), or until his successor has been duly elected and qualified, or upon his earlier resignation, retirement or other termination of service. The Board has also appointed Mr. Gilliland as a member of the Audit Committee and as Chair of the Talent and Compensation Committee, effective March 25, 2026.

Mr. Gilliland, age 55, is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Delinea, Inc., a leader in identity security (since March 2021). Prior to Delinea, Mr. Gilliland was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Symantec Enterprise Division of Broadcom reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, where he led the integration and business operations post-acquisition. He also served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Enterprise Security Business. Prior to Symantec, Mr. Gilliland served as president and Chief Executive Officer of Skyport Systems, a SaaS managed secure infrastructure provider that was acquired by Cisco Systems in 2018. Mr. Gilliland has previously served in senior roles at HP, Symantec, IMlogic, and Exchange Solutions. Mr. Gilliland holds several key patents in security. Mr. Gilliland has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of OneSpan (Nasdaq: OSPN) and as a member of the Board of Directors of Gigamon. Mr. Gilliland earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Carleton College and a Master’s of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Gilliland and any other persons pursuant to which he was appointed as a director. Mr. Gilliland does not have any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or proposed transaction (or series of transactions) required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Mr. Gilliand will receive: (i) an annual cash retainer of $50,000 for his director service; (ii) an annual cash retainer of $10,000 for his service on the Audit Committee; and (iii) an annual cash retainer of $25,000 for his service as the Chair of the Talent and Compensation Committee, to be paid quarterly in arrears (prorated in each case for fiscal 2027). On March 25, 2026, Mr. Gilliland was granted an equity award of 6,250 restricted stock units (“RSUs”), valued at $25,625 on the grant date, for his expected service from March 25, 2025 to the date of the 2026 Meeting. Such RSUs will vest on the earlier to occur of the 2026 Meeting or one year from the date of grant, whichever occurs first, subject to Mr. Gilliland’s continued service through the vesting date. If elected at the 2026 Meeting, Mr. Gilliland will be entitled to the same annual equity award received by other directors.

In addition, Mr. Gilliland received an onboarding equity award of 25,000 RSUs on March 25, 2026 (valued at $102,500) which will vest in equal installments over three (3) years, with the first tranche of the award vesting on April 1, 2027, and in each case, subject to Mr. Gilliland’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.

Mr. Gilliland has entered into the Company’s standard form of indemnity agreement for directors of the Company, pursuant to which the Company, subject to specified conditions, will indemnify Mr. Gilliland to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law for all expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding arising out of his service to the Company, including the advancement of expenses in certain circumstances. A copy of the form of indemnification agreement is included as Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 14, 2025. The Board has affirmatively determined that Mr. Gilliland is independent under applicable Company standards, Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, and applicable SEC requirements.

Item 9.01. Financial Statement and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated March 31, 2026
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 31, 2026         

	SKILLSOFT CORP.
	By:	/s/ John Frederick
		Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

Skillsoft Appoints Art Gilliland to Board of Directors

Cybersecurity CEO and enterprise software leader brings deep expertise in governance, risk, and AI-driven transformation

BOSTON – March 31, 2026 – Today, Skillsoft (NYSE: SKIL), a leading AI-native skills management platform built for the human + AI era, announced that Art Gilliland has joined its Board of Directors, effective March 25, 2026.

Mr. Gilliland is Chief Executive Officer of Delinea, a leader in identity security, and brings more than 25 years of experience leading global enterprise software and cybersecurity businesses. He previously led the Symantec Enterprise Division at Broadcom, where he oversaw integration and operations following its acquisition, and has held senior leadership roles at Skyport Systems, HP, and Symantec.

Mr. Gilliland brings seasoned board-level leadership and operational judgment shaped by experience advising and leading technology organizations through complex market transactions, regulatory scrutiny and large scale transformations. His background overseeing security-centric enterprise platforms adds strategic depth to Skillsoft’s Board as the company balances innovation with disciplined oversight and long-term value creation.

“Art is a proven CEO with deep expertise across cybersecurity, enterprise software, and AI, bringing a unique combination of leadership and technical perspective that aligns closely with where we are taking Skillsoft,” said Ron Hovsepian, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Skillsoft. “His experience scaling enterprise businesses and operating at the intersection of technology and AI, combined with his independence as a director, will be invaluable as we continue to advance our platform and drive long-term growth.”

“As AI fundamentally reshapes how work gets done, questions of trust, access, and accountability are becoming core leadership concerns,” said Mr. Gilliland. “Skillsoft is uniquely positioned to help organizations build not only critical skills, but also the decision-making frameworks needed to navigate this complexity responsibly. I am looking forward to supporting the team as they extend their leadership in the AI-native workforce transformation and drive the company’s next phase of growth.”

About Art Gilliland

A 25-year veteran of the cybersecurity industry, Art has a proven track record of success in the global, enterprise software industry. Art is currently serving as the CEO of Delinea, a leader in identity security, enabling enterprises to secure human, machine, and AI identities across on premises, multi-cloud and dynamic environments. Prior to Delinea, Art was the Senior Vice President and General manager of the Symantec Enterprise Division of Broadcom reporting to the CEO, where he led the integration and business operations post-acquisition. He also served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Security Business. Prior to Symantec, Mr. Gilliland served as president and CEO of Skyport Systems, a SaaS managed secure infrastructure provider that was acquired by Cisco Systems. Before Skyport, Mr. Gilliland contributed in senior roles at HP, Symantec, IMlogic, and Exchange solutions. Recognized as an information security expert, Art holds several key patents in security. Mr. Gilliland has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of OneSpan (OSPN) and as a member of the Board of Directors of Gigamon. He is also a member of Forbes Technology Council and a member of The Wall Street Journal Leadership Institute. Mr. Gilliland earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Carleton College and a Master’s of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

About Skillsoft

Skillsoft (NYSE: SKIL) is a global leader in AI-native skills management for the human + AI era. By unifying learning, real-time skills intelligence, and workforce insights, Skillsoft helps enterprises build their Skillforce™ — humans and AI working together to drive measurable business outcomes. Through personalized, interactive learning across leadership, technology, and compliance, Skillsoft enables organizations to close critical skill gaps and accelerate transformation. Skillsoft is trusted by thousands of organizations worldwide, including 60% of the Fortune 1000, and supports a global community of more than 105 million learners. Learn more at skillsoft.com.

Investors
Ross Collins
SKIL@alpha-ir.com

Media

Vito Gallo

vito.gallo@skillsoft.com 

FAQ

What did Skillsoft (SKIL) announce in this 8-K filing?

Skillsoft reported that its Board appointed Art Gilliland as a Class II director effective March 25, 2026. He also joins the Audit Committee and becomes Chair of the Talent and Compensation Committee, strengthening board oversight in governance, risk, cybersecurity, and AI-driven transformation areas.

Who is Art Gilliland, the new Skillsoft (SKIL) board member?

Art Gilliland is CEO of Delinea, a leader in identity security, with more than 25 years of cybersecurity and enterprise software experience. He previously led the Symantec Enterprise Division at Broadcom and held senior roles at Skyport Systems, HP, Symantec, IMlogic, and Exchange Solutions.

How is Art Gilliland compensated for his Skillsoft (SKIL) board role?

Gilliland receives an annual cash retainer of $50,000 for board service, $10,000 for Audit Committee service, and $25,000 for serving as Chair of the Talent and Compensation Committee. These retainers are paid quarterly in arrears and are prorated for fiscal 2027 as applicable.

What equity awards did Art Gilliland receive from Skillsoft (SKIL)?

On March 25, 2026, Gilliland was granted 6,250 restricted stock units valued at $25,625 for service through the 2026 annual meeting, vesting at that meeting or one year from grant. He also received 25,000 onboarding RSUs valued at $102,500, vesting in equal installments over three years.

When do Art Gilliland’s Skillsoft (SKIL) RSUs vest?

The 6,250 RSUs for expected service through the 2026 annual meeting vest on the earlier of that meeting or one year from grant, subject to continued service. The 25,000 onboarding RSUs vest in equal annual installments over three years, starting April 1, 2027.

Is Art Gilliland considered an independent director at Skillsoft (SKIL)?

The Board has affirmatively determined that Gilliland is independent under Skillsoft’s own standards, Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, and applicable SEC requirements. This classification supports his role on key board committees overseeing audit, talent, and compensation matters.

What does Skillsoft (SKIL) do as a business?

Skillsoft is described as a global leader in AI-native skills management for the human plus AI era. It unifies learning, real-time skills intelligence, and workforce insights to help enterprises close skill gaps, serving thousands of organizations, including 60% of the Fortune 1000 and over 105 million learners.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

5 documents

Press Releases

• EX-99.1 EXHIBIT 99.1 8.7 KB

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA 3.5 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE 11.2 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE 15.0 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE 11.3 KB