James Cook

WORK HISTORY

SKILLS

ABOUT JAMES COOK

I\'ve spent over 20 years learning what makes organisations work — first in the maritime industry, then in heavy industry, and most recently as a global HR executive leading the people function for a $2.2B crane manufacturer across 20+ countries. Having lived and worked in the UK, Italy, Germany, and the USA, I\'ve seen first-hand how differently great cultures can be built — and what they all have in common.What I\'ve learned is that culture isn\'t a side project. It\'s the operating system. I led HR, a kaizen-based continuous improvement system, and ESG — and the thread connecting all three was people. Whether it was designing executive compensation, integrating acquisitions, or building apprenticeship programmes, I was most energised when the work made a tangible difference for the people doing it.I\'m a UK national exploring what\'s next, and always happy to connect.