AI-focused leader Jessica Kowalski joins Wiley (NYSE: WLY) Research
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. reported a leadership change in its Research business. Jay Flynn, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research and Learning, is departing the company without cause and will receive separation benefits under his previously filed employment letter and the company’s executive severance policy.
Wiley appointed Jessica Kowalski as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research, effective May 11, 2026. She joins from Microsoft with more than two decades of experience in knowledge, data, research publishing, and AI-enabled businesses, including senior roles at Amazon Web Services and RELX, supporting Wiley’s focus on AI and data-driven research publishing.
Positive
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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
Date of report: May 6, 2026
Effective date: May 11, 2026
Experience length: More than two decades
3 metrics
Date of report
May 6, 2026
Date the leadership change was announced
Effective date
May 11, 2026
Effective date of Jessica Kowalski’s appointment
Experience length
More than two decades
Kowalski’s experience in knowledge, data, and AI-enabled businesses
Key Terms
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research, Executive Severance Policy, open access strategy, AI-enabled businesses, +1 more
5 terms
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research financial
"appointment of Jessica Kowalski, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research, effective May 11, 2026"
Executive Severance Policy financial
"described in the Company’s Executive Severance Policy, both of which were previously filed"
open access strategy financial
"was instrumental in defining and executing the company's open access strategy"
AI-enabled businesses technical
"experience leading knowledge, data, research publishing, and AI-enabled businesses at global scale"
research intelligence technical
"a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery"
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
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Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (the “Company” or “Wiley”) issued a press release today, May 6, 2026, announcing the departure of Jay Flynn, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research and Learning, and the appointment of Jessica Kowalski, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research, effective May 11, 2026.
Ms. Kowalski, joins Wiley from Microsoft, bringing more than two decades of experience leading knowledge, data, research publishing, and AI-enabled businesses at global scale, including senior operating roles at Amazon Web Services and RELX. She holds a Master of Arts from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from The George Washington University.
Mr. Flynn’s departure is without cause and, as a result, he is eligible for separation benefits in accordance with his previously filed Employment Letter dated September 28, 2021, and as described in the Company’s Executive Severance Policy, both of which were previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as exhibits to the Company’s Form 10-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
The following exhibits are being “furnished” as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K:
Exhibit No. Description
99.1 - Press release dated May 6, 2026 "Wiley Names Jessica Kowalski Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research"
104 - Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
SIGNATURES
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 thereunto duly authorized.
| JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC. | ||||||||||||||
| (Registrant) | ||||||||||||||
| By | /s/ Matthew S. Kissner | |||||||||||||
| Matthew S. Kissner | ||||||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||||||
| Dated: May 6, 2026 | ||||||||||||||
Wiley Names Jessica Kowalski Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research
Kowalski brings rare combination of publishing depth and AI expertise to accelerate Wiley's next chapter
HOBOKEN, N.J., May 6, 2026—Wiley (NYSE: WLY), a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence, today announced the appointment of Jessica Kowalski as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research, effective May 11, 2026. She succeeds Jay Flynn, who shaped Wiley’s Research business during his tenure and is leaving the company. Kowalski joins Wiley from Microsoft, bringing more than two decades of experience leading knowledge, data, research publishing, and AI-enabled businesses at global scale, including senior operating roles at Amazon Web Services and RELX.
Over the past two years, Wiley has moved aggressively to execute on its ever-expanding AI and data analytics opportunity, partnering with some of the world's largest technology companies and building strategic relationships with leading AI innovators and corporate model builders to put Wiley's authoritative content at the center of responsible AI development. Kowalski's appointment advances the next phase of that strategy: translating Wiley's AI and content leadership into the products and business models that will define the future of research publishing and expand efforts to deliver content and insights to both current and new customers. The appointment follows Wiley's recent naming of Armughan Rafat as Chief AI and Data Services Officer and reflects the company's broader effort to build a leadership team equipped to lead the industry’s AI evolution.
“Jessica's career has taken her from the heart of research publishing to the leading edge of AI transformation,” said Matthew Kissner, Wiley President and CEO. “That combination is rare, and it's exactly what this pivotal moment requires. She's results-driven, forward-thinking, and leads with innovation, creativity, and a partnership mindset. Following a very thorough search, we are confident Jessica is the right leader for the exciting opportunities ahead of us. As we enter our next phase of growth — scaling AI-enabled research publishing and deepening our partnerships across the global knowledge ecosystem — Jessica's vision and operational rigor will be instrumental in accelerating Wiley’s momentum.”
At Microsoft, Kowalski held full P&L accountability for a large-scale global services business, leading a group of AI, data, and cloud transformation experts building the future for customers in financial services, software, consulting, media, and other industries. Prior to that, at Amazon Web Services, she focused on data and analytics partnerships with regulated information businesses. Her publishing roots run deep: Kowalski spent eleven years at RELX in senior positions at Elsevier and LexisNexis, where she played a central role in transforming the business from a content-centric publisher to an information analytics company. Kowalski holds a Master of Arts from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from The George Washington University.
“To me, science is the highest expression of human ingenuity, and Wiley’s work at the intersection of technology and published research is what transforms discovery into impact,” said Kowalski.“This feels like exactly where I’m meant to be. Every step in my career has led me here, and I’m honored to join the team at Wiley, who are building something that truly matters.”
Jay Flynn, who joined Wiley in 2010 and assumed leadership of the Research business in 2021, was instrumental in defining and executing the company's open access strategy. Under his leadership, Wiley also built and expanded its partnerships with scientific and scholarly societies and research institutions, grew its journal and product portfolio, and advanced its publishing technology.
About Wiley
Wiley (NYSE: WLY) is a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning. With more than 200 years at the center of the scholarly ecosystem, Wiley combines trusted publishing heritage with AI-powered platforms to transform how knowledge is discovered, accessed, and applied. From individual researchers and students to Fortune 500 R&D teams, Wiley enables the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From knowledge to impact—Wiley is redefining what's possible in science and learning. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Contacts:
| Andrea Sherman Media 203.536.7564 asherman@wiley.com | Brian Campbell Investor Relations 201.748.6874 brian.campbell@wiley.com | ||||
FAQ
What executive leadership change did Wiley (WLY) announce in its Research business?
Wiley announced that Jay Flynn will depart as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research and Learning, and will be succeeded by Jessica Kowalski as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research, effective May 11, 2026. Flynn’s departure is without cause under his employment arrangements.
Who is Jessica Kowalski, the new Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research at Wiley (WLY)?
Jessica Kowalski is Wiley’s new Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research. She joins from Microsoft and has over two decades of experience leading knowledge, data, research publishing, and AI-enabled businesses, including senior operating roles at Amazon Web Services and RELX in research and information analytics.
When does Jessica Kowalski’s appointment at Wiley (WLY) become effective?
Jessica Kowalski’s appointment as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research at Wiley becomes effective May 11, 2026. The company announced the leadership transition on May 6, 2026, providing a brief handover period following Jay Flynn’s departure from the Research leadership role.
How is Jay Flynn’s departure from Wiley (WLY) characterized in the filing?
Jay Flynn’s departure is described as without cause, which makes him eligible for separation benefits. These benefits are governed by his previously filed Employment Letter dated September 28, 2021 and the company’s Executive Severance Policy, both already on file as exhibits to Wiley’s Form 10-K.
How does Wiley (WLY) link this leadership change to its AI and data strategy?
Wiley connects Kowalski’s appointment to its AI and data analytics strategy, highlighting her background in AI-enabled businesses and cloud services. The company notes recent moves, including naming a Chief AI and Data Services Officer, as part of building a team to lead the industry’s AI evolution in research publishing.
What prior experience does Jessica Kowalski bring to Wiley (WLY)?
Before joining Wiley, Kowalski held full P&L responsibility for a large global services business at Microsoft, focused on AI, data, and cloud transformation. She previously worked at Amazon Web Services on data and analytics partnerships and spent eleven years at RELX in senior roles at Elsevier and LexisNexis.