Board of Directors

Alessandro is an accomplished IT entrepreneur with over 30 years of international experience working with major multinational corporations across six countries.

He has held senior roles in IT Sales and Executive Management at global companies such as Canon, Xerox, and Mondadori Digital. Prior to 2003, he also ran his own company, IdeaPc, an IT business in his home country, which was later acquired by a larger group. In addition to IdeaPc, Alessandro successfully launched and exited two other entrepreneurial ventures in the Ho.Re.Ca. industry, further demonstrating his versatility as a business leader.

In 2010, Alessandro joined Dell, where he led the EdTech Business Development team. Two years later, he was recruited by Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, as part of their EMEA team, where he played a key role in expanding their international presence.

In 2018, he co-founded an IT outsourcing and engineering company with Ana Macri, dedicated to developing complex learning solutions for the EdTech industry. Since 2019, he has worked as a freelance consultant for several global organizations, including Code Institute and the Leading Learning Partners Association, where he has overseen global sales and business development initiatives.

Alessandro is widely recognized for his dynamic leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on approach. A strong negotiator and results-driven leader, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the long-term vision and operational strategy of Knowledge Pillars, where he focuses on streamlining processes and maximizing business impact.

Alessandro also serves as Chairman of the Board at Knowledge Pillars.

In March 2020, Alessandro co-founded Knowledge Pillars with his wife, Ana Macri. Fluent in four languages, he holds a dual citizenship and splits his time between Dubai, Switzerland, the UK, and the United States with Ana and their five children.

Ana brings over 16 years of expertise in Software Development and Product Management. She holds a degree in Computer Science from the Politehnica University of Timișoara (Romania), graduating in 2009. Since then, she has worked as a Software Engineer for several global organizations, including Accenture, Informa, and Thomson Reuters—where she also advanced into roles as a Scrum Master and Agile Coach.

In 2018, Ana co-founded an IT outsourcing company with Alessandro Macri, specializing in the development of sophisticated learning solutions for the EdTech sector.

That same year, she took on the role of Head of Development and Technical Delivery Manager at the Leading Learning Partners Association, a premier global IT training provider. There, she led the creation of the Azure Academy (now Skills Academy) online learning platform, developed in partnership with Microsoft.

Since 2020, Ana has served as a Technical Product Leader for leading companies such as Eyeo and Amazon Web Services (AWS), continuing to deliver strategic and impactful technology solutions.

Renowned for her sharp problem-solving abilities, creativity, and deep technical acumen, Ana is also celebrated for her visionary approach to product development and team leadership. Her innovative Agile mindset empowers teams to exceed expectations. She is the driving force behind the technology and product vision of Knowledge Pillars.

Aaron Osmond brings over 35 years of executive leadership experience in the IT Training and Certification industry

Before joining Knowledge Pillars, Aaron was an executive education leader at Amazon Web Services or AWS (2020-2024). Aaron served as the Head of Strategic Industries Team and the Global Digital Learning Sales Leader within the Training and Certification division. Prior to that role he served as the US Leader of the Education to Workforce team in the Global Public Sector division of AWS, where he consulted with state government leaders to help them implement workforce readiness programs to prepare students for future cloud careers.

Prior to AWS, Aaron served as the Vice President and General Manager of the Certiport division of Pearson Assessments, from 2012 to 2020, where he led their Global Career and Technical Education business unit. From 1991 to 2012, Aaron built his career in key leadership roles in the IT Training and Certification industry at companies such as WordPerfect, Novell, and Microsoft. During this time Aaron also served for 5 years as CEO of Wealth Rock, a large financial education company based in Utah.

From March 2011 until December 2015, Aaron served his local community as a Utah State Senator representing the South Jordan, Herriman, and West Jordan areas. During his term, he served on the Public Education Appropriations Committees, the Higher Education Appropriations Committee, and as Chair of the Public Education Standing Committee, and then as Chair of the Economic Development & Workforce Committee.

Between 2017-2020, Aaron also served as the Vice-Chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education, where he worked with other board members to provide oversight and governance of the state’s 16 higher education institutions.  Aaron is a passionate advocate of the importance of access to technical education programs for students in both our public and higher education systems globally.

Aaron is globally known as a charismatic leader, with a strong history of significant year-over-year growth. A passionate, powerful and brilliant communicator, he is widely appreciated for his business acumen and sales leadership.

Aaron became CEO of KP in February 2024, having previously supported the company as an advisor and board member since its founding in 2020.

Thor Christianson brings decades of experience in technology development, business development, and IT education to the Knowledge Pillars Board. As the former founder and CEO of GMetrix, a learning and practice test provider for the IT certification industry globally, he brings a deep background in software development and successfully growing new businesses in the EdTech industry.

Thor’s expertise includes executive leadership, project management, strategic planning, and technology development. His insights into technology and IT certification trends and business strategy will contribute significantly to the board’s initiatives. 

Jim Holm is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the education technology sector. He has held leadership positions at several prominent companies, including serving as the current CEO of Stukent, creating life-changing learning experiences for students, and as the former CEO of Examity, a leading provider of online proctoring solutions.

Prior to that, Jim was the General Manager at Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, where he oversaw global operations and strategic initiatives. His expertise spans business development, strategic planning, and operational management, making him a valuable asset to the Knowledge Pillars Board of Directors.