James E. Thompson joined Chiquita as senior vice president and chief compliance officer in April 2006. He serves on the company's management committee and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the company's compliance and ethics program. On July 1, 2006, Thompson will succeed Robert W. Olson as general counsel and secretary with responsibility for Chiquita's global law department.
Prior to Chiquita, Thompson served as group vice president, general counsel and secretary at McLeodUSA, Inc., one of the nation's largest independent competitive telecommunications service providers with operations in 25 U.S. states. In that role, he led McLeodUSA's legal department and implemented corporate governance initiatives, such as Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance. He was also responsible for regulatory compliance, including federal and state public policy and advocacy.
Prior to McLeodUSA, Thompson was director and associate general counsel for the international legal department at Alticor, Inc., and served as chief legal officer for its innovations business unit. In these roles, he managed legal support for Alticor's international affiliates around the world, including the entry of the company into new global markets. Thompson also has legal experience at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, including five years in the firm's Brussels office, where his principal practice area was complex corporate transactions with international components, including antitrust and trade regulation.
James E. Thompson serves as Chiquita’s senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, with responsibility for the company’s global law department. Thompson joined Chiquita in April 2006 as senior vice president and chief compliance officer.
Prior to Chiquita, Thompson served as group vice president, general counsel and secretary at McLeodUSA, Inc., one of the nation's largest independent competitive telecommunications service providers with operations in 25 U.S. states. In that role, he led McLeodUSA's legal department and implemented corporate governance initiatives, such as Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance. He was also responsible for regulatory compliance, including federal and state public policy and advocacy.
Prior to McLeodUSA, Thompson was director and associate general counsel for the international legal department at Alticor, Inc., and served as chief legal officer for its innovations business unit. In these roles, he managed legal support for Alticor's international affiliates around the world, including the entry of the company into new global markets. Thompson also has legal experience at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, including five years in the firm's Brussels office, where his principal practice area was complex corporate transactions with international components, including antitrust and trade regulation.
Thompson earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School and received his bachelor's degree in history from the University of Michigan. In addition, he was the first American selected as a law clerk stagiaire at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
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