Leeds technology and learning specialist, Cognito, has appointed Kirsty Foster-Jennings as strategy director.

Cognito is a market disrupting product that is making major inroads into the workplace learning and people development space.

Kirsty brings a wealth of experience, with previous roles at a leading learning provider as well as time at an organisation that develops leadership courses for directors working in children’s services.

Cognito was established in 2017 and is a unique knowledge retention and performance measuring tool that drives engagement and individual improvement. Employees and learners use Cognito on their phones, tablets, or computers, spending just two minutes a day answering questions about training, procedures, compliance, or anything else. It is a simple way to help them retain information and reinforce learning or training. For businesses, it gives unprecedented insight into how their teams are retaining new knowledge.

In her new role, Kirsty oversees and formalises company processes and support structures. She also works with Cognito’s team to successfully integrate new clients and help shape the business moving forward.

Managing director, Mike Routledge, said: “Kirsty has worked in learning and development for the last 10 years and is experienced in helping organisations of all sizes deliver effective outcomes using learning tools. She is joining us at an exciting time following major contract wins from a national charity, a technology supplier to the shipping industry and several significant organisations within the financial services sector. There’s no doubt Kirsty has the experience to further enhance our processes and understanding of our customers’ requirements as we continue to grow.”

Kirsty added: “Cognito has quickly grown into one of the most effective learning and development tools to aid knowledge retention, through its use of AI and other innovative technology, and can be moulded to be effective across all types of job roles and industries. It’s already making a truly measurable difference to organisations and their employees across all sectors. All this combines to make this an inspiring career move for me.”