James P. Ryan

Jim Ryan, Arts ’89, was elected to the Marquette university Board of Trustees in 2022.

He is president and CEO of Flexera, a global software company headquartered outside Chicago. He has been with the company since 1998 in roles that included chief operating officer, senior vice president of global sales, and managing director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, during which time he lived in the United Kingdom for seven years. Under Jim’s leadership as CEO, Flexera has experienced dramatic revenue and EBITDA growth, multiple ownership changes with private equity and more than a dozen merger and acquisition transactions. He has been instrumental in growing the company’s valuation by fifteenfold to now nearly $3 billion.

Flexera is recognized by organizations such as Gartner, Forrester and others as a leader in its field. Most importantly, the 1,200-plus employees worldwide have certified Flexera as a Great Place to Work. Flexera has been named a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune for 10 consecutive years.

Jim has been an operating adviser to the private equity firm Thoma Bravo since 2014. He sits on outside boards, leveraging his experience and track record of delivering results at Flexera.

Jim started his career at IBM in sales and remains passionate about the sales profession. Jim was instrumental in forming Marquette’s Center for Professional Selling, designed to help students excel in their careers as salespeople, and is an advisory board member of the center.

Jim attended Green Bay West High School, and the Ryans established the Do Great Things Initiative that focuses on increasing the number of Green Bay West students who attend Marquette University and college in general. The initiative bridges the financial gap required to attend Marquette via endowed scholarships and helps families understand the numerous financial aid programs available to deserving students.

Jim holds a B.A. from Marquette, where he met his wife Tracy (Comm ’89). Jim and Tracy serve as co-chairs of Marquette’s Chicago Campaign Committee and are members of the Marquette University Archbishop Henni Founders Society, the Marquette University President’s Society and the St. Ignatius Legacy Society.