Higher edtech platform Simplilearn has added Andrew Wait to the company’s board of members. His onboarding announcement comes on the back of the latest fundraising round, for $45 million, from a consortium led by GSV Ventures. In addition to GSV Ventures, Clal Insurance, and DisruptAD, ADQ’s venture platform was also part of the round. 

In 2021, Simplilearn attracted an investment of $250 million from the private equity firm Blackstone Group. It also acquired a US-based bootcamp education company, Fullstack Academy, in November 2022. 

With decades of professional experience, Wait is a successful board member, consultant, president, and general manager with experience in global internet, brand, product and marketing, including web-enabled and delivered consumer and B2B products and services. 

He has coached and built effective organizations with expertise in marketing, product development, engineering, operations, customer support and sales. He is also a key leader in several private equity, IPO and acquisition exits. Wait was a board member and growth advisor at Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and was associated with companies like Tractive, Pathstream, Crehana and Evolv Technologies. An alumnus of California’s St Mary’s College, he later completed his MBA in International Finance & Foreign Trade from this institution.  

Speaking on joining the Simplilearn team, Wait said, “The scope of opportunities that edtech has opened up for students and professionals is massive. People continue enthusiastically taking up programs to upskill themselves and explore better prospects. I am pleased to join the Simplilearn team at a time when the edtech industry is going through a dynamic shift across the globe.”

Sharing thoughts on Wait’s appointment, Krishna Kumar, founder and CEO of Simplilearn, said, “Andrew’s vast knowledge and expertise is going to be of value as we gear up and build a team that will lead the way towards growing Simplilearn as the worldwide leader in skilling. Our aim to boost global access to upskilling remains strong, and we are pleased to have Andrew join us in this vision.”

Founded in 2010 and based in San Francisco, California, and Bangalore, Simplilearn conducts more than 3000 live classes per month. An average of 70,000 learners spend more than 500,000 hours each month on the platform.