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Jim Bennett is currently a Senior Advisor with Dix & Eaton. He works with several of Dix & Eaton’s largest clients to translate their mission, overall direction and product/market strategies into compelling communications to all principal stakeholders: customers, investors, employees and communities. Prior to becoming associated with the firm in the summer 2002, Jim had a 34 year career in management consulting and line management.
McKinsey & Company (1968 - 1998) During 30 years with McKinsey (13 of which were in Canada), Jim held a number of leadership positions. They included Managing Director for Canada; Managing Director of the Cleveland/Pittsburgh Office Complex; member of the worldwide Executive Committee; member of the worldwide Shareholders Committee (McKinsey's equivalent to a Board of Directors); and Chairman of the Clientele and Professional Development Committee with worldwide oversight of investments in functional and industry practices.
In his consulting work, Jim concentrated on strategy and organization development assignments for large organizations in a wide variety of industries - from health care, financial services and consumer products through heavy manufacturing. He also worked with a variety of family controlled businesses - ranging from small companies to multi-billion dollar enterprises. Comprehensive communications programs were an integral part of all these client assignments. Throughout his McKinsey career, Jim also served a number of not-for-profit organizations, frequently on a pro bono basis, as part of McKinsey's commitment to the communities and countries in which the Firm operates. In particular, Jim has done work in the arts, education, economic development, and social services fields.
KeyCorp (1998-2001) In close to three years at one of the country's largest bank-based financial services companies, Jim was Senior Executive Vice President and a member of Key's management committee. He was Chair of Retail Banking and the senior executive responsible for operational services, marketing, employee communications, public affairs, and the Pacific Northwest geographic businesses.
EmployOn (2001-2002) For eighteen months, Jim was President, CEO, Board member and 10 percent owner of a start-up online recruiting and talent management company. At EmployOn Jim hired and built the senior management team, led the formulation of an overall business strategy, and oversaw the development and launch of four new products from an initial base of one.
Throughout his career, Jim has been deeply involved in board leadership and governance, both business-related and in civic affairs. In the former, he was a Director of Progressive Corporation from 1998 to 2002, the US' third largest and highest performing auto insurance company. Jim is currently a Board Member of both Dix & Eaton and Fairport Asset Management.
He was formerly the Chair of the Cleveland Initiative for Education, the business community's principal vehicle for engagement in the City's municipally run school system. He is the past Chair of the Visiting Committee of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, and past Vice Chair of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association - the country's largest chamber of commerce. He is a Director and Founding Chair of the Greater Cleveland Media Development Corporation, a public/private partnership entity founded in 1997 to bring film production to Greater Cleveland.
In civic affairs and not-for-profit organizations outside the business arena, Jim was a ten year Director of The Cleveland Foundation (the second largest community foundation in the country) and chaired the Grantmaking and Community Engagement Committee. He is a past Chair and Trustee of the Cleveland San Jose Ballet, a past Trustee of The National Ballet of Canada, a past Trustee of Hathaway Brown School, a long time Trustee of United Way in Cleveland, and a former member of the Trustee Council of Phillips Exeter Academy.
Jim grew up near Youngstown, Ohio. He is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, Cornell University, and Harvard Law School, where he obtained his JD in 1968. While at Harvard Law School, he also attended Harvard Business School. | 