Jim Lawson

 Jim Lawson co-leads the firm’s Global Financial Officers Practice. He is a trusted client advisor, specializing in senior financial officer assignments across a broad range of industries, including technology, industrial, consumer, healthcare and financial services. His clients range from Fortune 500 organizations to portfolio companies of leading private equity firms. Jim is also part of Russell Reynolds’ Board and CEO Advisory Group, recruiting executives with financial expertise to serve on audit committees. He works closely with the firm’s Leadership & Succession Practice, advising CEOs and boards across leading organizations around succession for internal and external candidates. Jim is based in New York, but also serves as the firm’s leader for the Philadelphia region.  

Prior to joining Russell Reynolds Associates, Jim served as the global leader of financial planning and analysis at a publicly traded consumer products company. Reporting to the CFO and executive leadership team, he focused on key projects including acquisitions, divestitures and short and long-term strategic planning. Previously, Jim was a Manager with PwC, where he worked in the Assurance Practice servicing Fortune 500 clients, and in the Transaction Services Practice, performing financial due diligence for both financial and strategic buyers. While at PwC, Jim took part in building a formal talent management function and was a significant contributor to the firm’s recruiting and staff development efforts.