For-profit Bridgepoint hires new strategy chief as it retools

Education Dive

By Ben Unglesbee

Semel brings years of business development experience as Bridgepoint prepares to spin off its Ashford University, which last year the company merged with its University of the Rockies. Bridgepoint has submitted plans to its accreditor that would convert Ashford to a separate nonprofit entity while the company would transition its remaining business to a technology and educational services model.

“His (Semel’s) experience developing strategies that drive growth for organizations in the education industry, along with his investment and acquisition expertise, will help us meet our strategic objectives,” Bridgepoint CEO Andrew Clark said in a statement.

Semel is part of a larger wave of incoming executives at the company. Late last year, Bridgepoint brought in Greg Finkelstein, who founded the OPM company Deltak and served as an “executive in residence” for a private equity firm. In January, the company announced the hire of Brian Bethune, previously director of continuing studies at Hamline University and a former dean at DeVry University, to be the strategic lead on instructional design for… (continue reading)