Executive Profile: Tom Tooker, 2019 President of C2HR

In addition to a new name, our association has a new president! Tom Tooker is the Vice President of Human Resources for A+E Networks. We sat down with Tom and asked him to share insight into the year ahead and highlights from his 24 years as an industry HR executive. We also tapped Tom for some travel tips and convinced him to share his guilty pleasure. Keep reading to get to know Tom!

Based on your projections, what trend will have the biggest impact in the HR field in 2019?
HR is no longer the group that focuses on hiring employees and managing benefits, our impact is now far-reaching across the organization. Over the past few years, HR leaders have increasingly used analytics and data-driven decision models to move the business forward.  I see that continuing in 2019 and beyond as the C-suite continues to turn to HR as a strategic partner.

What has been the greatest achievement in your career?
The launch of MSNBC was memorable because it was both challenging and fun.  At the time, the entire HR department consisted of a VP, a manager and a coordinator. In four or five months, we recruited approximately 350 employees so that we could go on the air in July 1996.  Our new hire and benefits orientation, the largest I’ve ever attended, was held at the Glenpointe Marriott in Teaneck, New Jersey for that huge group.  Fun times!

More recently, I have been working through the expansion of A+E Networks internationally. Our company has gone through a process of buying out our joint ventures in several different countries including Singapore, Korea, Japan, Italy and Germany. The effort has been challenging from both the business and HR perspective, but incredibly rewarding.

You grew up in Ohio and attended University of South Carolina, yet you’ve worked in NYC for 31 years. Do you consider yourself a Midwesterner, a southerner or a New Yorker at heart?
My dad was in the service, so I traveled everywhere growing up.  We moved every one to three years, and I attended three high schools. I’ve lived in Ohio, California, the Philippines, outside Chicago, Florida (twice), Connecticut, South Carolina and now New Jersey. I’m pretty comfortable anywhere.  I’m not sure I’d call myself a New Yorker, I consider myself more of a Northeasterner.

How were you introduced to the industry?
A recruiter called me about an HR Manager role at CNBC.  I went on my interviews and said “I have to have this job!  Live TV is amazing!” I am eternally grateful to Adria Alpert Romm for giving me an opportunity that turned into a long-term career in media. So much has changed in 24 years with content and multimedia distribution, and there’s so much more to come. It’s exciting.

What is the best advice you ever received?
My grandfather told me, “Tommy, whatever you do, give it 100%.  No one will ever fault you for trying your hardest. And always be kind to people. It’s the easiest thing in the world to do.”

What goals do you have for C2HR in 2019?
A big goal in 2019 is to spread the news on our association’s new name! CTHRA just wasn’t doing it any more.  Content & Connectivity is so much more relevant. Member engagement will be a top priority for C2HR, and we will roll out new initiatives throughout the year. Next month, the Board of Directors will embark on a strategic planning effort facilitated by Proteus International, and I’m looking forward to seeing the outcome of that. It’s an exciting time to be C2HR’s President! 

Your job takes you all over the world. What’s your favorite business travel destination?
I have several: Rome, for the food, of course!  I’ve been to London so many times that it’s kind of like home, and Singapore is the best place in the world to go in January when it’s 20 degrees in New Jersey.

As a seasoned traveler, what business travel tips can you share?
Pack light! It gets old lugging bags around. If you travel internationally, Global Entry is well worth the expense. It’s a real time saver and TSA pre-check is included. And one of my favorite travel secrets is to use www.seatguru.com  to choose seats, especially for long international flights.  The website identifies the best seats on the plane and the ones to avoid!

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Cheese and a nice glass of red wine. Oh….and bacon! Seth Feit and I are trying to make that a C2HR presidency requirement!

If you weren’t an HR leader, what would you be?
I would run a garden center. I love plants and flowers; really anything that I can find a home for in my yard.  I have some pretty amazing ferns! I can spend hours on the weekend working outside. 

What Is your favorite restaurant in NYC?
For steak, it’s definitely The Palm Too.  For Italian, Bocca Di Bacco in Chelsea is pretty good. My absolute favorite is Cocina Candela, an amazing Puerto Rican restaurant in my hometown of Montclair, New Jersey.