James Ledbetter

About James Ledbetter

I\'m a senior leader with a passion for safe operations and transforming businesses for long-term success. With decades of experience spanning refining and chemical plant operations, asset management, distribution, and HSE leadership, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, commercial acumen, and frontline leadership.Throughout my career, I\'ve led large-scale organizational transformations—balancing risk, efficiency, and profitability to build resilient and sustainable businesses. Whether navigating rapid growth, market volatility, or structural change, I drive progress through strategic alignment, decisive leadership, and deep operational planning.My leadership style is grounded in care for people and a strong belief in empowering teams. I know when to build consensus and when to lead with clarity and conviction. I’m proud to lead high-performing teams who are committed to delivering business goals while continuously developing their own capabilities.I’ve worked across global markets and diverse cultures, with proven expertise in:• HSSE Leadership & Cultural Change• Environmental Reporting and Compliance • Transportation Safety and Logistic• Operational Excellence & Cross-border Operations• Transformation & Change Management• Internal and External Stakeholder ManagementI bring a relentless focus on safety, a strong track record of business results, and a reputation for challenging the status quo to find creative, actionable solutions. I enjoy opportunities where I can help shape the future, lead from the front, and make a lasting impact—for the business, its people, and the communities we serve.

Experience

1. Head Hse Ame

   Vestas

   Jul 2025 — Present · Houston, TX, US

   Lead regional HSE strategy across the United States and Canada, supporting wind energy operations including manufacturing, construction, service operations, logistics, repair facilities, and corporate offices.Key leadership focus areas include:Developing and implementing regional HSE strategies aligned with global safety prioritiesDriving safety culture improvements and workforce engagement initiativesLeading incident investigations and systemic risk reduction programsEnsuring compliance with regulatory requirements and global safety standardsPartnering with executive leadership to integrate safety into operational planning and decision-makingLeading safety audits, site inspections, and operational risk assessments across regional sitesLeveraging safety data analytics to drive continuous improvement and performance accountability

Education

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Chemical Engineering

• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Chemical Engineering

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  Master of Science - MS, Chemical Engineering

Skills

• Hse Management Systems
• Petrochemical
• Training
• Account Management
• Change Management
• Project Management
• Chemical Process Engineering
• Hazop Study
• Refinery Operations
• Strategic Planning
• Downstream Oil & Gas
• Lopa
• Process Engineering
• Process Simulation
• Hse Auditing
• Process Safety
• Energy
• Chemical Engineering
• Qaqc
• Hazop
• Gas
• Engineering
• Refinery
• Petroleum
• Analytical Skills
• Refining
• Process Control