Proven technology CEO with a track record of scaling businesses and accelerating organic growth to lead Wellspring’s next chapter
ARVADA, Colo. — Oct. 19, 2026 — Wellspring, a provider of innovation management, technology transfer, and IP management software, today announced that Chris Fanning has become chief executive officer, effective immediately. Fanning succeeds Sean Downs, who is stepping down.
Fanning is a multi-time CEO who brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across global technology and software businesses, with a record of translating product and market opportunities into sustained growth. Most recently as CEO of KPA, a provider of Environmental Health & Safety compliance software and services, he led the company’s transformation from a tech-enabled services business into a SaaS provider and more than doubled annual recurring revenue. Previously, he held leadership roles at Survey Sampling International, Lattice Semiconductor, and The Boston Consulting Group. Across these businesses, he built growth strategies, strengthened product portfolios, and developed teams focused on delivering greater value to customers.
“Chris [NS1] has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to scale technology businesses, strengthen products, and accelerate growth,” said Fred Sturgis, Managing Director at Resurgens Technology Partners, a software-focused private equity firm and investor in Wellspring. “As Wellspring enters its next phase of growth, his combination of software experience, customer orientation, and operating discipline makes him the right leader to take the company forward. We remain fully committed to Wellspring’s growth and are excited to partner with Chris to build on its momentum.”
Wellspring is a global, multiproduct platform serving the IP, R&D, and innovation needs of corporations, universities, and government agencies. Corporate innovation teams use Wellspring to connect portfolios to revenue growth and profitability. Technology transfer offices use its software to help move more research to market with less manual effort. Customer work and commitments continue without interruption, and the product roadmap for Accolade, Evolve, and Astria—including AI capabilities introduced in 2025—remains on course.
“Wellspring represents an outstanding opportunity: a global company with meaningful customer relationships, important products, and continued potential to [DC2] grow,” said Fanning. “I’m excited to join this talented team and build on the strong foundation already in place. My focus will be to listen to our customers, understand where their needs are going, and help our teams continually make great products even better. By combining a relentless customer-first mindset with product innovation, commercial excellence, and disciplined execution, I believe we can deliver even greater value to customers and take Wellspring to new levels of growth and success.”
Downs will work closely with Fanning to ensure a smooth transition. Customer relationships and commitments remain unchanged.
“Sean led Wellspring through a period of significant transformation, and the business would not be where it is today without his leadership. We’re grateful for his partnership and the strong platform he built,” said Sturgis.
About Wellspring
For academic institutions, government agencies, and forward-thinking corporations, Wellspring is the premier innovation and IP management partner bridging the gap between research and commercialization to activate opportunities and drive growth. Its suite of innovation technology products simplifies complex processes, from initial discovery to market success, effectively and efficiently. To learn more about Wellspring, visit wellspring.com.
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Seth T. Godwin
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seth.godwin@wellspring.com