Lodwrick Cook - Employment

Employment

Beginning in 1956, Cook was employed with Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), the seventh largest oil company in the United States. Cook was hired as an engineer trainee, but went on to hold several management positions in labor relations, refining, marketing and planning, rising to become a Vice President of the company in 1970. After heading up ARCO’s West Coast refining marketing operations, he chaired the eight-company Owners’ Committee building the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. When the multi-million dollar pump station burned, Cook proposed a solution of injecting a drag reducing agent to speed the flow, a success when implemented and resulting in the savings several hundreds of millions of dollars.

In January 1986, he became ARCO’s chairman and CEO, succeeding the legendary Robert O. Anderson. Under Cook’s leadership, the new ARCO was hailed as the best-managed U.S. company, with profit margins approached by few and returns on equity equaled by none. He remained in his position for nine years until, in June, 1995, he retired, becoming Chairman Emeritus.

In September, 1997, Cook became Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Pacific Capital Group, a venture capital, merchant banking group founded by Gary Winnick. The following year, in April, 1998, Cook was installed by Winnick as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Global Crossing, a position Cook held until he stepped down in 2002 during the company's bankruptcy proceedings. Cook also served as chairman of Global Marine Systems beginning in 1999 and Asia Global Crossing in 2000.

In addition to ARCO and Global Crossing, Cook has served on the board of directors for Lockheed Corporation (until 1995), Castle & Cooke, the Kyle Foundation and Litex, Inc. He is also a member of the advisory committee of Aurora Capital Partners.

Cook remains Vice Chairman of Pacific Capital Group and maintains an office at their Los Angeles, California location.