I help companies rethink how they approach pay, performance, and incentives. My work combines research and practical experience to design simple, effective reward programs that recognize both the power and the limitations of extrinsic forms of reward.

I work primarily with fast-growing tech and life science companies to shape employee value propositions, total rewards strategies, career frameworks, compensation structures, and equity programs. I also specialize in sales compensation, partnering closely with sales leadership to design and implement incentive plans that are fair, transparent, and aligned with company goals.

Before founding James Alexander Consulting LLC in 2024, I spent over 15 years in professional services, moving from financial accounting into HR advisory. I served as a Senior Advisor at Nua Group and a Director at Radford (Aon), helping companies across Europe, the Middle East, and the US build thoughtful, scalable reward systems.

I’ve written and published two books: What Pay Costs and Nothing Left to Take Away, both exploring how organizations can build systems that motivate through trust, clarity, and purpose rather than control.

Originally from Surrey, I now live in San Francisco, where I continue to advise organizations on how to reward better.