CPI's Digital Gambit: New CEO to Modernize De-escalation for a High-Stress World

MILWAUKEE, WI – December 01, 2025 – In a move signaling a significant strategic pivot toward technology and global scale, Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), the world’s foremost provider of de-escalation training, has appointed digital transformation expert Andee Harris as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment, effective August 20, 2025, marks the end of a highly successful 16-year tenure for outgoing CEO Tony Jace and positions the mission-driven organization to capitalize on the surging global demand for conflict resolution skills.

This leadership change is far more than a routine succession. It represents a calculated response to a market landscape where the need for empathy and safety in professional environments is intersecting with the imperative for digital, scalable solutions. Harris, known for accelerating growth at tech-focused firms, is being brought in not just to manage but to modernize, signaling a new chapter for the 45-year-old institution.

A Digital-First Mandate for a High-Touch Mission

Andee Harris arrives at CPI with a formidable track record in driving growth through technological innovation. Her most recent role as CEO of Challenger, a salesforce training and technology pioneer, provides a clear blueprint for her new mandate. At Challenger, she led the company through a period of accelerated digital modernization and strategic growth, culminating in a successful sale in September 2024. A key achievement during her tenure was the rapid transition of Challenger’s entire training model from in-person to fully online during the pandemic, a feat that demonstrated both adaptability and a deep understanding of digital learning's potential.

This experience is precisely what CPI’s board, including its majority owner, investment firm Wendel, was seeking. Harris's career is defined by her ability to scale service and technology businesses, including Highground (acquired by Vista Equity Partners) and TMBC (acquired by ADP). Her expertise lies in connecting data with human-centered strategies to build robust organizational cultures and drive revenue. In her own words from the announcement, her focus will be on expanding CPI's "digital capabilities, strengthening our evidence-based programs, and extending our impact globally."

This digital push is critical. While CPI’s "train-the-trainer" model has successfully certified instructors who have reached over 17 million professionals, scaling further to meet explosive demand requires a more robust technological backbone. The industry is rapidly evolving, with trends pointing toward blended learning, e-learning modules, and even simulation-based training using virtual and augmented reality. Harris’s appointment is a clear signal that CPI intends to lead, not follow, this technological evolution, making its vital de-escalation techniques more accessible and impactful than ever before.

Building on a Legacy of Unprecedented Growth

Harris inherits an organization built on an exceptionally strong foundation, meticulously constructed over 16 years by her predecessor, Tony Jace. Since taking the helm in 2009, Jace transformed CPI from a respected training provider into the undisputed global standard in workplace violence prevention. Under his leadership, the company achieved a double-digit Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in both revenue and EBITDA, a testament to a successful and sustained growth strategy.

Jace’s vision was instrumental in expanding CPI’s footprint beyond its traditional markets. He spearheaded a crucial push into the healthcare sector, a field grappling with rising rates of patient and visitor aggression, and drove significant international expansion. Furthermore, he initiated the company’s first forays into digital and e-learning products, laying the groundwork for the very transformation Harris is now tasked with accelerating.

"Andee is a proven leader with the vision, empathy, and experience to guide CPI into its next chapter," Jace stated, endorsing his successor. This smooth transition, with Jace remaining for a handover period, underscores a shared commitment to CPI's core mission: empowering professionals to manage crisis situations with dignity and respect. The legacy Jace leaves is not just one of financial success, but of a deeply mission-driven organization poised for its next stage of evolution.

The Strategic Vision of a Patient Investor

The appointment of Andee Harris is also the clearest expression yet of the long-term strategy held by Wendel, the Paris-based investment firm that acquired a 98% stake in CPI in December 2019 for approximately $910 million. At the time of the acquisition, Wendel identified CPI as a "clear market leader" with immense global growth prospects, and their subsequent actions have been geared toward realizing that potential.

Wendel’s stated goals for CPI have always centered on four pillars: deeper market penetration, new product expansion, aggressive digitalization, and strategic globalization. The selection of a CEO with Harris’s specific skill set is a direct execution of this strategy. Her experience in scaling businesses, leveraging digital platforms, and navigating strategic acquisitions aligns perfectly with the investor’s roadmap.

In a joint statement, Adam Reinmann and Harper Mates, Managing Directors with Wendel, noted that Harris's career "reflects a dedication to empowering organizations and people, through innovation, digital transformation, and culture building–aligning directly with CPI's mission." This is not the move of an investor looking for a short-term flip, but rather a strategic placement of leadership designed to build enduring value by expanding the company’s reach and impact. The investment thesis is clear: the societal need for de-escalation is a powerful, long-term tailwind, and the right leader can harness it to drive both social good and significant financial returns.

Meeting an Urgent and Expanding Societal Need

Ultimately, this leadership transition at CPI is about more than corporate strategy and market dynamics; it reflects a response to a growing crisis in public-facing professions. Educators, healthcare workers, and human service professionals are facing unprecedented levels of stress, burnout, and workplace violence. The demand for training in recognizing, preventing, and de-escalating challenging behaviors has never been more acute. CPI’s person-centered, trauma-informed programs are designed to provide the practical tools needed to create safer environments for staff and the communities they serve.

The challenge for CPI, and for Harris, is to deliver these essential skills at a scale and pace that matches the urgency of the need. This involves moving beyond traditional classroom settings to create flexible, accessible, and continuously reinforced learning pathways. By integrating modern digital tools, CPI can support professionals not just during a training seminar, but throughout their careers, providing on-demand resources and advanced learning opportunities.

As Harris steps into her new role, she carries the responsibility of guiding an organization that sits at the intersection of business innovation and profound social impact. The success of her tenure will be measured not only in revenue growth and market expansion but in the number of safer schools, more secure hospitals, and more respectful communities fostered by CPI's evolving mission.