SCRANTON, PA--(Marketwire -07/09/12)- Penn Foster, Inc., a global leader in online education, today announced the appointment of its new President and Chief Operating Officer, Joseph Gagnon. In this new role, Gagnon is driving an increased focus on student achievement and outcomes by building an integrated new-age learning experience. This new approach is designed to prepare students with relevant knowledge and skills, support them when challenges arise and commit to helping them achieve their goals with next generation technology and personalized service. Gagnon's announcement follows Penn Foster's recent appointment of Frank Britt as its new CEO, Raymond McNulty as Chief Learning Officer and an office expansion in Boston, bolstering the school's presence in the rapidly growing online learning sector.

"Joe brings Penn Foster unparalleled leadership skills and a deep knowledge of the consumer psyche, which is invaluable as we refocus our school on the changing needs of our students and what it takes for them to be successful in today's workforce," said Frank Britt, CEO of Penn Foster. "The depth and scope of the student-focused initiatives and technologies that Joe has already introduced to Penn Foster are providing us with a market leading ability to execute and a roadmap for how Penn Foster partners with its students for long-term success."

Gagnon's entire career has been focused on growing and driving consumer and business demand for products and services. Joe will draw from his consumer retail experience, and focus on how that model can drive student success at Penn Foster.

Most recently, Gagnon came from e-Dialog, a wholly owned subsidiary of GSI Commerce Inc., an eBay Inc. company and the largest B2C email marketing company, where he was President and ran global operations. Prior to e-Dialog, Joseph was CEO of Exit 41 where he focused the company on successfully delivering SaaS-based consumer-facing online, social and mobile ordering solutions for the restaurant industry. Joe was previously vice president, global leader of IBM's Business Consulting Retail Industry leading overall strategy, direction and business operations. He joined IBM when it acquired strategic consulting firm Mainspring, where Joe served as SVP Consulting.

"Education is undergoing many dynamic changes as an industry and I'm thrilled to be part of Penn Foster's leadership team," said Joe Gagnon, President and COO of Penn Foster. "Our goal is to partner with our students from the very beginning to help them achieve success; we will act like a retailer, in a sense, and provide educational programs that fit within their time and budget constraints. We work with our students to understand their needs and motivations and then arm them with the right tools, processes and academic support to see them through their education and onto employment. I look forward to continuing Penn Foster's mission of increasing the ability of every person who so desires to access the knowledge and skills they need in order to fulfill their goals in life."

About Penn Foster Penn Foster is a global leader in online education, providing high school diplomas, career-focused degree and vocational programs in the fields of allied health, business, technology, education, and select trades through the Penn Foster College and Penn Foster Career School.

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Penn Foster Names Joseph Gagnon President and Chief Operating Officer