Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) 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.
About Polaris – With annual 2009 sales of $1.6 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER™, snowmobiles and Victory motorcycles for recreational and utility use and has recently introduced a new on-road electric powered neighborhood vehicle. Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of ORVs in the world. Victory motorcycles established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships. Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the S&P MidCap 400 stock price index. Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com
