Education Management Corporation announced that James (Jim) Hobby has been appointed to the newly created position of executive vice president (EVP) of Operational Services & Support. In the newly created role, Hobby will be responsible for providing strategic direction to the company's Education Shared Services Center, which unites staff and other resources to better serve students across the four educational systems - Argosy University, The Art Institutes, Brown Mackie Colleges and South University. Prior to joining the company, Hobby served as executive vice president-global operations at Sykes Enterprises.

Hobby will be based in Pittsburgh and report directly to West.