James Robinson brings more than 25 years of diverse international experience counseling leaders at critical moments of transformation. As a member of the firm’s Executive Council and the global lead of APCO’s Geo-Commerce offering, he works across North America, Asia and Europe as an advisor to the C-suites and boards of some of the world’s most respected organizations. His works spans global strategy, market entry, geopolitical advisory, corporate affairs and public affairs, leadership communications, crisis management and stakeholder initiatives.
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
– Nelson Mandela
Previously, James served as managing director for APCO in Shanghai where he led a team of approximately 30 staff and oversaw APCO’s Hong Kong business. While in China, he helped clients in the technology, health care, consumer goods and financial services sectors as they entered, expanded in and navigated the China market. Before returning to China, James was based in New York for more than a decade, where he led APCO’s trailblazing business sustainability practice. In New York, he was also client leader for several of APCO’s most significant global assignments and led several award-winning client campaigns. He was named to PR Week’s 40 Under 40 list of leaders in the communications industry.
Between 1999 and 2005, James served within the investment and government relations practice of APCO’s Beijing office, where he advised multinationals looking to enter and expand in the China market. He also spent a year in APCO’s office in Indonesia, where he focused on clients within the extractive industries.
James graduated with both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in China Studies from the University of Cambridge and speaks Mandarin proficiently. He serves on the board of USA for UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency. He is frequently asked to speak about the evolving role of business in society as well as the challenges faced by multinationals in China and is often cited by leading international media.
