Executive Leadership

MICHELE JAMES, Founder

Michele is the founder of James & Co., the firm she built as it was the one she always wanted to hire as the client. Ms. James previously was Chief Talent Scout for Time Warner and served as the leader of a world-class executive search and recruiting organization across all Time Warner businesses domestically and internationally. She identified top talent, internally and externally, to fill leadership roles throughout the company and facilitated cross-divisional moves that resulted in attracting and developing the world’s best talent. James’ unmatched efforts in diversity represented searches that were a magnet for a broad range of people and perspectives. Prior to joining Time Warner, Michele was Managing Director of the world’s largest Executive Search Firm, where she led the media, entertainment, sports and convergence practices in identifying executive talent. Michele led hundreds of searches for Financial Sponsors in the aforementioned verticals. As one of the top Executive Search professionals in the field, Michele brings broad-based recruiting experience as well as best practices to her role. Before entering the field of search, Michele held executive and operating positions at a number of firms in the cable and media industries. These include: Executive Vice President and partner of US FiberCom Network, Inc., a subsidiary of TCI/US Cable Groups; Vice President for Cable Sales and Marketing at Westinghouse Broadcasting’s Group W; and Vice President of the media brokerage firm FBC.

ROYSI ERBES, President

Ms. Erbes is a Founding Partner at James & Co. She combines a consultative approach to her client’s business strategies with innovative and targeted senior search execution. The variety of assignments she completes keeps her in constant touch with top level executives in all sectors of the media, entertainment, sports and technology industries, allowing her to stay abreast of the most current trends in the marketplace and advise her clients about how these impact their businesses. Prior to joining James & Company, Ms. Erbes was with the world’s leading Executive Search Firm for 9 years, most recently serving as co-head of the media practice. Previously, Ms. Erbes worked in the Network Television Research department of Lorimar Television. Before coming to the United States, Ms. Erbes worked as an Assistant Product Manager at Unilever in Istanbul, Turkey. Ms. Erbes holds an MA in communications management from the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California and a BA in international business administration from the American University of Paris. Ms. Erbes is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Manhattan Chapter and is currently the Chapter Chair. Ms. Erbes is fluent in French and Turkish.

BEN WARD

With over 15 years of experience in retained executive search, Ben Ward is among the first in the field to specialize in entertainment and media. His career began in Los Angeles at the world’s largest search firm, where he recruited leaders for all segments of the media and entertainment industries. Later, Ben was posted to London to head up the firm’s media and entertainment activities across Europe. He was named a Vice President and Management Director in 2000.