Oxford

Curriculum Vitae

James Cooke MA MSc

An international specialist in business and people development, advising Government, the European Community, Universities and businesses of all shapes and sizes at the highest level.

Lifetime patronage of the Arts, including membership of the Board of the Arts Council of Great Britain (1987-1991), advising on the lottery strategies for Islington Borough Council, Chichester District Council and Dorset County Council and Strategic Development Adviser to the National Gallery, National Maritime Museum, the V&A and the Royal Armouries, as well as Artistic Director to the Stationers International Music Festival. He has been the strategic advisor and coach to 8 University Vice Chancellors within the UK. He is currently the strategic advisor and coach to the leadership of Kings College, London which has risen from 96 in the world league tables to 23 during his five years with them. In May 2011 he became the Senior Advisor to Parthenon Consulting the leading specialist HE consulting firm in the US. Latterly he has been appointed the strategic advisor and coach to the Board of Bromley Healthcare, London's leading social enterprise in healthcare.

James is especially interested in the challenges facing professional firms and has been the coach to some of the UK's leading architctural practices. These have included Sheppard Robson, Grimshaw and HOK. He is currently the Strategic Advisor to the R.I.B.A.

Golf fanatic, passionately married to Noel; James has been a Governor of The Lady Eleanor Holles School,  and Strategic advisor to The Variety Club of Great Britain. He is a member of Brooks's Club and the RAC. James and Noel live in Florida.

Education

  • St John’s College, Oxford University - MA (Tutor - Professor John Carey)
  • London Business School, London University - MSc (Tutor - Professor Charles Handy)
  • London City University - Diploma in Psychology and Coaching

Professional Experience

  • Courtaulds Limited
  • PA Management Consultants (Managing Consultant)
  • Binder Hamlyn (National Partner)
  • GHN Limited (Chairman)
  • James Cooke Consultants (Owner and Chairman)
  • Senior Advisor Parthenon Consulting

Career highlights

  • Wrote the National Health Supplies Strategy 2000.
  • Wrote the report on the Impact of Technological Change on UK Employment. Directed the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) nation-wide change programme introducing micro electronics to industry - The Micro Electronics Awareness Programme (MAP).
  • Initiated and directed the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) Special Programmes Unit which underpinned the Youth Training Scheme and created the first 20 Inner City Community Action Programmes.
  • Advised on the Inward Investment Strategy for London and the Docklands Light Railway.
  • Founding Member of the Universities Advisory Group.
  • Initiated and led the Business Development Master Class series for the R.I.B.A.
  • Author of the "Managing in Recession" series for the R.I.B.A. Journal.

James Cooke Coaching clients

  • Cities
  • Universities
  • Multinationals
  • Global Institutions
  • SMEs
  • Professional Firms

"His experience is so great. He got to know us and then worked on almost every aspect of the business. We doubled in size - he was a tremendous help."