Online learning platform Coursera has hired Tom Savage as chief legal officer to replace current legal head Alan Cardenas, who is stepping down later this year.
Savage was previously general counsel at software business Red Hat.
Greg Hart, CEO of Coursera, said: “[Savage] brings a phenomenal track record and deep experience working with community-focused technology companies, and he’ll be a great addition to our leadership team as we continue to scale and serve our learners, customers and partners worldwide.”
Savage spent more than eight years as GC at Red Hat, latterly as part of IBM. Prior to joining Red Hat, he was GC at semiconductor business Marvell Technology – his first in-house role.
He was previously a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto, his second stint at the firm following two years as counsel at legacy firm Shearman & Sterling. He started his legal career at Sidley Austin in Chicago.
Savage said: “My entire career has been focused on helping technology companies create more opportunities for everyone, and I’m honoured to join Coursera at such a pivotal moment for the company and industry. I look forward to working with the entire leadership team in finding new ways to serve our growing community of learners and customers worldwide, and supporting Coursera’s mission in the years ahead.”
Cardenas, meanwhile, is stepping down after five years with the company, just over three of them as GC. Cardenas will remain as GC until the end of the year to support Savage in his new role.
Cardenas said: “Being part of Coursera’s journey – through our early months as a public company to the successful close of the Udemy combination – has been one of the most rewarding chapters in my career, particularly the legal team we built along the way to support Coursera’s expanding role in the world.
“I’m confident that I’m leaving the team in excellent hands with Tom. I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and spending more time with family before turning to the next chapter of my career.”
Prior to joining Coursera, Cardenas was head of corporate legal at Siemens Energy, having spent more than a decade at Siemens in a number of legal roles. He previously worked in private practice at Drinker Biddle & Reath and Debevoise & Plimpton.
In other education-related in-house moves, back in August AI workforce training platform Skillsoft named former Pegasystems GC Matthew Cushing as CLO, replacing interim legal chief Scott Semel.
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