Jim Ryan, Arts ’89, was elected to the Marquette University Board of Trustees in 2022 and was elected vice chair of the board in 2026.

He is 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 this 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.

Flexera is recognized by organizations such as Gartner, Forrester and others as a leader in its field. Most importantly, the 2,400-plus employees worldwide have certified Flexera as a Great Place to Work. Flexera has been named a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune for 14 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, which focuses on increasing the number of Green Bay West students who attend Marquette University, UW Green Bay, and college in general. The initiative bridges the financial gap required to attend college 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 are co-chairs of Marquette’s Chicago Campaign Committee. They are members of the Marquette University Archbishop Henni Founders Society, the Marquette University President’s Society, and the St. Ignatius Legacy Society.