Skillsoft (NYSE: SKIL), an AI-native skills management platform, has launched Skillsoft AI Coach, a new coaching experience integrated into its Percipio platform. The release addresses a structural gap in corporate training by extending personalized coaching—traditionally reserved for senior leaders and high-potential employees—to a broader workforce. By tying coaching directly to role-specific skills and daily work requirements, the company aims to help organizations connect learning investments more closely to employee development and measurable business outcomes.

The new tool is built on coaching principles established by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), including active listening, reflective questioning, goal setting, and accountability. Unlike standalone tools or executive-only programs, AI Coach is embedded within Skillsoft’s existing ecosystem, allowing it to track skills, learning, and practice data simultaneously. This integration enables a continuous loop of development where employees can set goals, reflect on progress, and identify next steps without leaving their primary workflow.

"Most coaching investments to date have expensive, exec-only programs disconnected from the rest of an organization's skills and learning strategy," said Gina Smith, Research Director at IDC. "By building AI Coach into a platform that already tracks skills, learning, and practice, Skillsoft aims to address a structural gap in how coaching has been delivered, not just adding a feature."

Bernie Barbour, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Skillsoft, emphasized the scalability of the solution. "Every organization needs people who can build the skills that move the business forward," Barbour said. "Coaching is one of the most effective ways to help employees develop those skills, but it has traditionally reached only a small part of the workforce. By bringing AI Coach into the Skillsoft platform, we can extend coaching to more employees and leaders, and connect that experience to the skills, learning, and practice that they need to grow."

Key Capabilities

AI Coach enables organizations to achieve several strategic objectives through its integrated approach:

The system uses AI-generated insights to maintain conversations over time, ensuring that coaching remains relevant as employee goals and organizational needs evolve. Because the tool is part of the broader Skillsoft platform, it directly aligns with the skills employees need to build and the learning resources available to them.

What the Numbers Show

While no financial figures were disclosed in this product announcement, the strategic shift highlights a broader industry trend toward democratizing leadership development. Traditional executive coaching is often cost-prohibitive to scale across entire workforces. By leveraging AI to deliver ICF-aligned coaching principles, Skillsoft is attempting to reduce the per-employee cost of skill development while increasing the volume of coached interactions. This model suggests a move from sporadic, high-touch executive interventions to continuous, low-touch workforce-wide support.

AI Coach is currently available to select customers in early access. Organizations interested in evaluating the tool can find more information at Skillsoft.com/percipio.

Skillsoft (NYSE: SKIL) has appointed Matthew J. Cushing as its Chief Legal Officer, effective Monday, August 3, 2026. The appointment marks the completion of a planned transition to permanent leadership for the company’s legal function, replacing Scott Semel, who served as interim Chief Legal Officer. Cushing will lead Skillsoft’s global legal organization and report directly to Chief Executive Officer Ron Hovsepian.

The hiring brings three decades of experience in legal, governance, commercial strategy, and business transformation to the AI-native skills management platform. CEO Ron Hovsepian stated that Cushing’s firsthand experience in helping companies navigate complex business transitions while maintaining strong governance and operational discipline will be an asset as Skillsoft continues executing its strategy and driving growth.

Executive Background

Before joining Skillsoft, Cushing held multiple executive leadership roles at Pegasystems for nearly nine years. He served as General Counsel (Chief Legal Officer) and Chief Commercial Officer, leading the global legal function during Pegasystems’ transition to a cloud-first subscription business and a period of significant Annual Contract Value (ACV) growth.

Earlier in his career, Cushing was Vice President and General Counsel of EnerNOC, where he helped lead the company’s successful U.S. Supreme Court litigation in FERC v. EPSA. He also served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Acme Packet, leading the legal execution of Oracle Corporation’s $2.1 billion acquisition of the company. Prior to these roles, he spent 17 years at Bingham McCutchen LLP (now Morgan Lewis), including more than a decade as a partner in the firm’s corporate practice.

Leadership Transition

Cushing’s appointment concludes the interim period led by Scott Semel. Hovsepian expressed gratitude for Semel’s leadership and contributions during the transition.

Cushing cited Skillsoft’s clear vision, strong leadership team, and significant opportunities ahead as key factors in his decision to join. He emphasized his intent to contribute to the company’s continued growth and create long-term value for shareholders.

What This Means for Governance

The appointment strengthens Skillsoft’s executive leadership team with a veteran public company executive experienced in both legal compliance and commercial strategy. By integrating legal oversight with commercial acumen—reflected in Cushing’s prior dual role at Pegasystems—Skillsoft aims to align its governance framework more closely with its operational and growth objectives. This structural alignment is particularly relevant as the company advances its AI-native platform strategy and manages workforce capability transformations for its clients.