A Wall Street analyst who is a well-known commentator on the for-profit higher-education industry has jumped ship to work for one of the companies he has long been following for clients, the Apollo Group Inc.

Apollo, which is the parent company of the University of Phoenix, announced that effective today, Gregory Cappelli, an analyst with Credit Suisse, will become executive vice president for global strategy, and an assistant to John G. Sperling, the company’s founder and executive chairman.

Mr. Cappelli will advise Apollo on strategies for international expansion, an effort that has been a stated priority for the company for several years, although it has taken little firm action in that area. —Goldie Blumenstyk