Minneapolis, MN (1/20/2011) - Polaris
Industries Inc. today named Jim Williams as
vice president of human resources. Williams
has an extensive human resources background,
with top-level experience at Fortune 400 companies.
Williams will be responsible for Polaris'
global human resource sourcing and will play
a large role in the company's international
growth plans.
"Jim is a world-class human resources
professional with broad experience globally
inclusive of acquisitions and joint ventures,"
said Scott Wine, chief executive officer,
Polaris Industries. "Jim brings more
than 25 years of experience in human resources,
much of it at the executive level, to Polaris.
He will play an integral role as we continue
to shape Polaris' future as a global powersports
leader."
Williams is succeeding John Corness who,
after 12 years of developing a top tier human
resources team, has decided to move into a
part-time role that allows him more flexibility.
"John has been a big part of the success
of this company in his time here, helping
us steer through many changes during our growth,"
Wine said. "His every-day presence will
be missed, but we look forward to him continuing
to provide strong counsel, based on his extensive
experience, through this transition and beyond."
For the past five years, Williams oversaw
a global workforce at Cooper Industries, where
he was accountable for 28,000 people in 60
nations. During his time with Cooper Industries,
Williams designed and implemented the company's
first human resources agenda, specifically
to support Cooper's long-term growth goals,
while also leading structural and procedural
process improvement initiatives.
Prior to that, Williams led human resource
efforts at Danaher Corporation, a $10 billion
global industrial conglomerate. In this role
he completed a thorough restructuring of Danaher's
entire HR organization, improving procedures
and processes at both a corporate and operating
level.
The bulk of Williams' experience was gained
during more than a decade with Honeywell,
Inc. He began his career there leading human
resources at the site-level in Lawrence, Kansas;
at the time of his departure he reported directly
to the senior VP of Human Resources and Communications
for the $31 billion Corporation. While with
Honeywell, he led a series of strategic executions
to overhaul talent management and human resource
operations, establishing many best practices
for the company's Human Resources division.
Williams holds a B.S. from Cornell University
and an M.B.A. from Washington University in
St. Louis, Mo. He currently serves on the
board of directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.