Michael E. Hansen, CEO, Cengage Learning
Michael E. Hansen became Chief Executive Officer of Cengage Learning in September of 2012 and he oversees all aspects of the global business. Mr. Hansen is focused on the evolution of the publishing industry, including the transition the publishing industry is making from print to digital and the development of new product lines for a digital world. He has deep experience in equipping organizations with the structure necessary to support these transitions. As a thought leader in the information services sector, Mr. Hansen has an extensive track record in developing successful business models.
In the four years prior to joining Cengage Learning, he served as CEO of Elsevier Health Sciences, a division of Reed Elsevier. During his tenure, he developed and implemented a successful print‐to‐digital transition and accelerated new electronic product development.
Prior to Elsevier Health Sciences, Mr. Hansen served as President and CEO of Harcourt Assessment which was then the education arm of Reed Elsevier. Harcourt was unprofitable when he came aboard. Yet in a relatively short period of time, Mr. Hansen and his team were able to rejuvenate Harcourt’s growth and restore its profitability by combining new investments and undertaking intelligent costcutting measures. This resulted in a lucrative sale of the business.
Early in his career, Mr. Hansen was Executive Vice President of Operational Excellence at Bertelsmann, a$20B global media company. In that capacity, he was responsible for the group‐wide Performance improvement initiative (BEX), setting the future strategic direction for the business. Prior to Bertelsmann, he served briefly as head of international operations at Proxicom, an internet focused technology company. Mr. Hansen spent the first 11 years of his career with the Boston Consulting Group in New York, ultimately becoming Partner and Co‐Chairman of the e‐Business and Media Practice.
In addition, Mr. Hansen is currently a Board Member of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS). Mr. Hansen holds a Master of Law degree from the University of Bonn in
Germany and an MBA from Columbia University in New York.
