Dr. James Robertson
PresidentJames brings over 20 years of international and cross-industry experience in consumer products, advertising, manufacturing, and packaging industries.
He leads The Summit Group’s business relationship with covenant clients including 3M, Cisco Systems, Cooper Industries, General Mills, Hilton Hotels, Medtronic, Novozymes, Procter & Gamble, Textron, and U.S. Postal Service.
James joined The Summit Group as vice president of business development from Tetra Pak, where he held general management as well as senior sales and marketing roles in Southern Africa, India, Europe and the USA. James championed the company’s approach towards the customer by leading the implementation of Tetra Pak’s enterprise-wide strategic customer management and customer loyalty programs. He also led global customer teams, re-designed customer-facing business processes, and implemented enterprise and CRM technology solutions.
James’ strengths lie in customer-focused business performance improvement, strategic business development, and sales, marketing, and strategic leadership talent development. He has taught at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, Global Account Management Executive Program and speaks at the Strategic Account Management Association.
James holds a B.Com (Hons) degree from Universities of Natal and South Africa, a Diploma in Financial Management from University of New York, and has participated in Executive Development Programs at IMD, Kellogg, and Carlson Schools of Business. He earned his Doctorate from Middlesex University in London.
James lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.