Mike Cooke, Executive Advisor, TorontoMike joined PEO as an executive advisor in February 2007 bringing along his unique experience and leadership skills as a turnaround expert. Mike spent 15 years with the Jimmy Pattison Group in such a role - in fact he was given the nickname "The Suitcase" living in approximately 10 different cities during his tenure. In his first 9 years he acted as the President overseeing the Flexible Packaging Group which was essentially comprised of over 5 different North American plastic companies in the food and industrial segments. Whenever a new acquisition was made or a turnaround required, the Companies' success was often the result of Mike's work. During the last 6 years he served as the President of The News Group, responsible for taking the original acquired Company from $250,000 in revenue to $1Billion, achieving a 10 fold increase in market share with a significant increase in profitability.

Mike has a unique leadership style - his experience allows him to look at things from a different perspective- be it selling beer, operating a salt mine, or performing a roll-up in the North American magazine wholesale distribution business. He has a reputation for developing a dominant market position in any business based on a realistic assessment of its unique value. He then focuses its people, systems and resources intensely against creating that value. The ability to do this in different industries, business sizes and situations speaks to the extraordinary value Mike brings.

Mike is married to Lynn and they have two adult children: Patrick and Mark. He is active in the community and is an alumnus of PEO.