President And CEO Dave Jackson Hands CEO Duties To Barry Knuttila, Stays As President and COO

Unusual changes are taking place at King Schools to ensure their continued pace of technological advancement. Long-term President and CEO of King Schools, Dave Jackson, recommended to company owners John and Martha King that Barry Knuttila, formerly Senior Vice President, Technology and Marketing, take over the CEO duties while Jackson would remain as President and Chief Operating Officer.

Jackson, who has been at King Schools since 1997, came to the company from the movie industry. “Movies and TV have a lot of moving parts and movie producers/directors are great managers,” John King said in a news release. Jackson became President of King Schools in 2000 and CEO in 2006.

“Barry came to King Schools from the enterprise software industry in 2002 and is uniquely prepared to manage our strategy in the future," Jackson said. "Barry has already played a major role in King Schools’ advancement in technology from the days of VHS video tape to online courses which can be downloaded to an iPad and even taken while offline. We want to keep this advancement going.”

“One thing that won’t change for sure,” said Martha King, “is our core value of treating everyone with civility and respect. Both of these guys are real class acts.” John added, “That’s why this unusual move of having a former subordinate pass his boss will work. Most managers would tell you that it can’t work, but it will in this case. These two are great friends. They are even partners in an airplane together.”

Both have an on-going passion for flying. Dave is a single and multiengine pilot with a Citation type rating and a love of tailwheel flying. Barry holds an ATP certificate with a type rating in the Falcon 10, and captains it regularly when he can talk John or Martha out of the seat. Plus, Barry is a single and multiengine airplane instructor and an instrument instructor.

The change is effective October 1, 2015. John and Martha will continue as Co-Chairmen, talent on video and general guardians of course quality to ensure that, as John says, “Our courses stay clear, simple and fun.”

(Image provided with King Schools news release. [L-R] Dave Jackson, Barry Knuttila)

FMI: www.kingschools.com