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Interview and North America. My journey has taken me to the UK, Sweden, Japan, and Canada,” James recounts.“ I’ ve held a variety of roles in both customer centers and divisional headquarters in Sweden, culminating in my previous position as President of the General Industry Division, based in Sweden and, for the past eight years, in the UK. The company has given me extraordinary opportunities to develop, lead, and learn from teams around the world. One of the most rewarding aspects of my career has been immersing myself in those different cultures – discovering how people work, communicate, and collaborate. What I’ ve learned is that our fundamental business model works everywhere, but success comes from understanding and adapting to the cultural nuances of each market.”
In his current role, James serves as a Director and General Manager of Atlas Copco’ s UK Customer Center, where the company delivers sales, project execution, and service solutions to the UK’ s manufacturing sector. Boasting a wealth of experience across various cultures and customer bases, his leadership style is underpinned by open-mindedness, clarity, and a deep understanding of how alignment across all teams and individuals cultivates real success. When asked about what advice he’ d offer to other leaders in the manufacturing industry, James highlights four key pillars of his own approach.
“ First, simplicity,” James reveals.“ Keep the vision, strategy, and actions clear and simple. Complexity slows organisations down; clarity accelerates them. When people understand the‘ why’ and the‘ how’, execution becomes natural. Then, authenticity. Be yourself and let your values guide your decisions. Authentic leadership builds trust, consistency, and credibility, especially in moments of pressure.
“ Next, resilience,” he continues.“ Good things are never easy. Progress requires persistence, courage, and the willingness to push through challenges. Resilience is what turns ambition into achievement.
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