Adam Knowlton
Portland,OR
Summary
Dynamic and growth-focused enterprise Account Executive with over 15 years of experience in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), ESG, and ethics technology solutions. Proven track record of empowering Fortune 100/500 to enhance governance frameworks, automate compliance processes, and mitigate operational risks through innovative SaaS platforms. Adept at cultivating strategic relationships with C-suite executives, navigating complex sales cycles, and driving significant annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth across compliance, risk, and ethics sectors. Recognized as a trusted advisor for the ability to translate intricate regulatory requirements into effective technology solutions that deliver measurable results.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Key Account Executive
Skillsoft
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Expanded the company's market share by identifying and securing new business opportunities developed customized strategies for key accounts resulting in increased sales and revenue growth targeting VP/Director level compliance, legal, HR, learning and development departments in Skillsoft clients w/o compliance solutions to build pipeline. Added $3+ million in growth pipeline from 2024 through October 2025. Closed $1.7 million in new and growth business in 2025 on a $2.2 million quota (Feb - Jan fiscal calendar)
- Drove growth within enterprise learning and compliance portfolios, aligning with evolving ESG, risk awareness, and workplace safety standards.
- Analyzed market trends to identify growth opportunities in risk and compliance learning solutions.
- Represented Skillsoft at SCCE and NSC events , expanding GRC partnerships and client pipeline.
- Collaborated with HR and compliance leaders to align ethics and safety training with corporate governance goals.
Strategic Account Executive, Ethics & Compliance
OneTrust
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Led enterprise client engagements across privacy, ESG, and GRC domains for OneTrust's integrated risk management suite.
- Consulted with compliance and legal executives to modernize governance frameworks through OneTrust's SaaS modules (Privacy, ESG, Third-Party Risk).
- Consulted with OneTrust privacy clients for growth opportunities and closed multi-year contracts driving over $550K ARR growth on 3rd party risk, and ethics solutions (hotline, policy management, ESG) with the OneTrust platform.
- Delivered executive-level presentations on AI-enabled compliance automation and data privacy management.
- Partnered with marketing and product teams to create targeted campaigns addressing evolving regulatory trends.
Director, Branch Development & Talent Acquisition
Inlanta Mortgage
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Hired to expand multi-state operations and strengthen recruitment practices across 27 states.
- Generated $120M+ in additional revenue by opening new branches and recruiting high-performing officers.
- Partnered with IT to implement a CRM and lead-tracking system ensuring data integrity.
- Built standardized hiring and onboarding protocols to meet federal mortgage and lending regulations.
- Created metrics-driven recruitment campaigns enhancing transparency and accountability across the network.
Senior Account Executive / National Account Manager
NAVEX Global (formerly EthicsPoint)
01.2008 - 01.2020
- Delivered integrated GRC and ethics SaaS solutions to enterprise clients across regulated industries.
- Grew underperforming territory from $800K to $5M+ ARR, achieving 40%+ YOY growth.
- Maintained 100% renewal rate for two years and expanded customer spend by 70% through cross-selling risk and compliance solutions.
- Partnered with legal, compliance, and HR leaders to implement ethics hotlines, case management, policy automation, and third-party risk tools.
- Enabled clients to build cultures of integrity and risk resilience through training, data analytics, and continuous improvement strategies.
- Served as a mentor and sales enablement lead, developing messaging frameworks and onboarding programs for new reps.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration And Management
Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WISkills
- Integrated Risk Management (IRM), Third-Party Risk & Vendor Management (TPRM), ESG & Sustainability Reporting, Data Privacy (GDPR, CCPA), Regulatory Compliance Automation, Sales Lifecycle & Pipeline Management, Strategic Account Development, C-Suite Solution Consulting, AI-Driven Compliance & Risk Analytics, Governance and Ethics Program Enablement
- Platforms: NAVEX Global, OneTrust, Skillsoft Compliance
- Tools: Salesforce, Zoom, Teams, WebEx, Google Workspace, PowerPoint, Excel, Concur
- Frameworks: GDPR, CCPA, SOX, FCPA, SO 27001, SOC 2,
- Skills: Risk Intelligence, Solution Selling, SaaS Revenue Growth, Executive Presentations
Timeline
Key Account Executive
Skillsoft
01.2024 - 01.2025
Strategic Account Executive, Ethics & Compliance
OneTrust
01.2023 - 01.2024
Director, Branch Development & Talent Acquisition
Inlanta Mortgage
01.2020 - 01.2023
Senior Account Executive / National Account Manager
NAVEX Global (formerly EthicsPoint)
01.2008 - 01.2020
Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration And Management
Cardinal Stritch University
Affiliations
- Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics (SCCE)
- Risk Management Society (RIMS)
- Open Compliance & Ethics Group (OCEG)