James Gagne has more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive business leader in the global supply chain, transportation, and logistics industry. His career is distinguished by his ability to architect, design, and execute on a vision and strategic plan for ‘re-founding’ and transforming businesses, while keeping the client, people, and value creation front and center. James has significant experience in starting, investing, running, accelerating, re-aligning, acquiring, selling, and recapitalizing businesses. He is a business leader who has lived and operated in China/Hong Kong for 22 years, before returning to the U.S. in 2017.

Joining and investing in SEKO Logistics in 2014, James was instrumental in architecting the Mid-Range Plan for SEKO that resulted in its first exit/sale to Private Equity backed Capital in 2015. He initially led the fast-growing Asia Pacific Region, based in Hong Kong. James was subsequently promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer in 2017 as part of his transition back to the U.S. to lead the global organization. As Chief Architect of SEKO’s Global expansion, James spearheaded the Transformation of SEKO from three (3) countries and $400m in revenues to a global enterprise with three (3) service line segments across a network of 150 offices in 60 countries with $2.4B in Sales in 2022. While Top Line grew 6x, EBITDA during this period grew more than 13x. His strategy enabled SEKO to provide superior supply chain solutions while maintaining and building on its client and people-centric approach.

James has led and supported forty (40) acquisitions and JVs throughout his career, the vast majority of these during his time at SEKO and Agility. Spanning the Globe, these have varied from U.S. and EU based International Forwarder/Customs Brokers and Contract Log /Fulfillment Providers, to Chinese Domestic Trucking and Tech Enabled E-Commerce Parcel Logistics players. His firsthand experiences cover the lifecycle of an acquisition, from upstream initial engagement thru post-close integration.

Prior to his time leading SEKO Logistics, James worked in China/Hong Kong in CEO and Executive Leadership, Asia Management Board roles at Agility, BAX Global/Schenker, and A.P. Moller – Maersk. It was during these 20+ years that James cemented his expertise and experience in the Commercial, Financial, Operational, Technology, and Compliance elements of Liner Shipping, Air, Ocean, Ground Transportation/Forwarding, Warehousing Fulfillment, Contract Logistics. He led cross cultural teams and businesses that experienced transformative growth (organic and M&A). James is both an Income Statement and Balance Sheet focused business leader.

James’ leadership philosophy centers on authenticity, building and scaling trust, fostering transformational change, empowering teams, strategic curiosity, focus, radical candor, and a growth mindset. Whilst James recognizes a need to think /act in quarters or around annual operating plans, his vision for the Transportation & Logistics industry spans decades.

Mr. Gagne holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Engineering & Transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and conversational Shanghainese.

James actively contributes to the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and serves on the Board of Airlink (Global Humanitarian Non-Profit Org), which fuels his vision for logistics being a benefit to humanity. He is an Advisory Board member of FPRI (Foreign Policy Research Institute), a US Think Tank based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that conducts research on geopolitics, international relations and security. He has previously served on the Board of Wineshipping, a leading tech-enabled third-party logistics (3PL) provider for alcoholic beverage companies. As Founder & CEO of Genesis Global Consulting LLC, James provides strategic advisory, M&A diligence, consulting services to VC, Private Equity & MNC clients. He is an active investor with AI/Tech Seed & Early Stage ventures.

Outside the Board Room, he finds joy in reading, rowing, and the world of wine. James cherishes his role as a devoted husband and father.