JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC. 8-K

What Happened John Wiley & Sons, Inc. filed an 8-K on May 6, 2026 announcing the departure of Jay Flynn, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research and Learning, and the appointment of Jessica Kowalski as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Research, effective May 11, 2026. Ms. Kowalski joins Wiley from Microsoft and has more than two decades of experience in knowledge, data, research publishing and AI-enabled businesses, including senior roles at Amazon Web Services and RELX. Mr. Flynn’s departure is without cause; he is eligible for separation benefits under his September 28, 2021 Employment Letter and the company’s Executive Severance Policy (previously filed with the SEC).

Key Details

• Effective date: Jessica Kowalski’s appointment is effective May 11, 2026.
• Departure: Jay Flynn left the company without cause and may receive separation payments per existing agreements.
• Background: Kowalski brings senior operating experience from Microsoft, AWS and RELX; she holds an M.A. from Georgetown and a B.A., summa cum laude, from The George Washington University.
• Filing: The appointment and departure were disclosed in an 8-K filed May 6, 2026.

Why It Matters This is a leadership change for Wiley’s Research business, which could influence strategy and execution for research publishing and AI-enabled products. The filing confirms the departure is without cause and that separation payments may be payable under previously disclosed agreements, so investors should note potential near-term cash impacts tied to severance. Shareholders may watch for further company commentary in future filings or earnings calls about leadership plans, strategic priorities for Research, and any operational changes under the new EVP.