John M. Cook
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Flexible Technology Solutions, LLC
Atlanta, GA
As chief financial officer for a large retail corporation in the 1980’s, Mr. Cook had a strategic vision that technology could completely change the accounts payable and cost recovery services industry. His vision became a reality in 1991, when he co-founded The Profit Recovery Group International, Inc. (PRG). Mr. Cook guided PRG from a small enterprise with $5 million in annual revenues into an international, publicly-held corporation with 2004 revenues of approx. $357 million, with operations in over 40 countries and approx. 2,800 employees.
In June, 1999, he was named Ernes & Young, LLP Regional Entrepreneur of the Year for the Financial Services category, and was inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Prior to PRG-Schultz, Mr. Cook held a number of top financial and management positions in the retail industry, including senior vice president and chief financial officer of Caldor Stores, a division of The May Department Stores Co., and senior vice president of finance for Kaufmann’s Department Stores, another May division. He also held a position as president of Eaton Corp.’s automotive division.
He currently services as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Flexible Technology Solutions, LLC (Flextecs), based in Atlanta, GA, which provides assistance to retailers and other high-transaction businesses to improve their internal controls through tools, technology and staff augmentation to correct and prevent errors in their procurement process.
Mr. Cook is actively involved in the Atlanta community. He is a member of the advisory board of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and The Carter Center’s board of councilors. He serves as Chairman of Fiber Online and JCN, a Nepal-based internet and cable TV company.
He has been a primary benefactor of the Human Development Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand. This foundation supports Mercy Centre, Bangkok’s first AIDS hospice, which focuses on children and mothers with the disease. Seeking to alleviate the suffering of children in Klong Toey, Bangkok’s largest slum community, Mercy Centre also operates an orphanage and a series of schools, helping over 4,000 children a year to qualify for public education. Mr. Cook founded, and serves as chairman of the board of, the Southasia Children’s Fund, which supports innovative educational programs for disadvantaged children.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Saint Louis University. He is a member of the university’s Board of Trustees, and serves on the executive advisory board of its school of business and administration, which is named the John Cook School of Business in recognition of his notable contributions to the university.