James Williams

James Williams

Global C-Suite Executive ✦ Board Member ✦ Executive Succession ✦ Business Transformation ✦ Growth Strategy

Polaris Inc.Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

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Experience42+ Years
LevelCXO

Executive Overview

𝗝𝗶𝗺 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗢, known as a business thought leader who transforms and builds organizational capability through strategic change leadership. Throughout his career he has consistently delivered a human capital agenda in support of clearly-diagnosed customer needs. As a global executive, Jim has shepherded holding companies, operating companies, and hybrid organizations across both mature and hyper-growth business conditions. He has overseen in excess of 100 mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, all with blue chip Fortune 500 companies spanning a myriad of industries, markets, channels and technologies. Jim has 19 years of boardroom presence and influence, and is regarded as best in class at executive and leadership identification and development. He is known as a plain-speaking, no-nonsense, critical-thinking problem-solver voraciously committed to top and bottom-line business results. Throughout his career, he has been called on to orchestrate a number of multi-faceted enterprise initiatives that elevated organizational performance and built sustainable shareholder value. Jim is heralded as a consigliere, a mentor, and a coach to the CEO, executive team and the Board. He sits in and actively participates in every Board meeting, and owns the Compensation Committee. While known as a collaborator, he is unabashed about offering a perspective on pressing business issues. 𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗧 • Board, CEO, Executive Succession • Enterprise Change Leadership • Crisis Management • Organization Transformation / Growth • Valued perspective from Multi-Industry engagements • Significant Global Experience • Buy & Sell M&A / Large-Scale Integration

Career Timeline

Professional employment history
  • 2011–Present· 15 yrs 8 mos
    • Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources OfficerCurrent
      2011–Present
  • 2006–2011· 5 yrs
    • SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, Cooper Industries
      2006–2011
  • 2005–2006· 1 yr
    • SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer
      2005–2006
  • 1995–2005· 10 yrs
    • Vice President, Human Resources
      1995–2005
  • 1990–1995· 5 yrs
    • Human Resources Manager and Team Leader
      1990–1995
  • 1984–1990· 6 yrs
    • Labor Relations Specialist
      1984–1990

Education

Master of Business Administration - MBA

Washington University in St. Louis

Bachelor of Science - BS

Industrial and Labor Relations

Cornell University

Executive Relationship Map

Reports To
James Williams
Vice Chair & President
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Operating Officer

Executive Network Preview

BizKonnect has mapped this leadership network including reporting hierarchies, peer connections, and cross-functional relationships.

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Skills & Expertise

15 of 15 skills
Change ManagementBoard GovernanceStrategic Human Resources LeadershipMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)TransformationCrisis ManagementExecutive SuccessionBoard SuccessionBusiness TransformationBusiness StrategyGrowth StrategiesCritical ThinkingGlobal HR LeadershipGlobal LeadershipCEO Succession