ACT has named Alex Thome as its new chief product officer. In the role, Mr. Thome will oversee product strategy for the nonprofit’s portfolio of education and workforce assessments, with a focus on product development and market direction.
Mr. Thome previously served as vice president of product at Penn Foster Group, where he managed high school programs and oversaw business growth across business-to-business, consumer, and government sectors. His past roles also include leadership positions at Flocabulary, the NYC Department of Education, and Santa Clara University.
His appointment comes as ACT begins implementing updates to its college admissions exam. The revised version of the test, which includes fewer questions and more time per item, was administered to a group of students earlier this month. It will be offered more broadly to online test-takers starting this summer, with full adoption expected by spring 2026.
“We are in such a pivotal moment as education continues to transform and learner needs evolve in a complex and ever-changing workforce,” Mr. Thome said in a news release. “I am incredibly proud to be a part of this innovative team and embark on a new chapter with ACT.”
Mr. Thome holds degrees from Santa Clara University and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He lives in the Boston area.
“Alex comes to ACT with an exceptional and proven record of product management and transformative innovation, as well as the market understanding needed to lead our broad and ambitious portfolio of assessment solutions,” ACT CEO Janet Godwin said in the release. “Our commitment to evolve, adapt, and provide forward-thinking products and services is just ramping up. We are thrilled to welcome Thome to our team and look forward to his contributions to helping all learners reach their full potential.”
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