The Brink’s Company announced on Monday it has selected Dallas lawyer Kristen Cook as its chief legal officer, executive vice president, and corporate secretary.
Cook was most recently the chief of staff to the chief executive officer at 7-Eleven, where she has been for the last 15 years and climbed the ranks from senior counsel to vice president and deputy general counsel.
“I had an amazing career at 7-Eleven, I felt I really grew up there,” Cook told The Texas Lawbook. “But I wanted to go back into legal.”
At Dallas-headquartered Brink’s, Cook will lead the legal and compliance departments, which together number more than 100 people; advise executive leadership; oversee corporate governance; and manage risk across global operations for a company operating in more than 50 countries and serving customers in over 100.
“It’s an incredible honor to step into this role at a company with such a long-standing legacy of trust, security, and innovation,” Cook said on LinkedIn. “I’m energized by the opportunity to help shape what’s ahead alongside a talented executive team and thousands of dedicated employees around the world.”
Upon leaving 7-Eleven, Cook received the company’s prestigious Servant Leadership Award, which is a recognition given by CEO Joe DePinto at his discretion.
“I told [Joe DePinto] I wanted him to be proud of me and viewed as a protégé,” Cook said. “It was a meaningful capstone and the best kind of sendoff.”
Cook said the opportunity to serve as chief of staff to the CEO gave her broad exposure to the boards of 7-Eleven and the Japanese parent company Seven & I Holdings Co. She worked on materials for board meetings and attended meetings in Tokyo. Cook was also involved in investor relations, which she described as a “major opportunity to understand global operations.”
One of Cook’s highlights at 7-Eleven was the key role she played in the Irving-based convenience store chain’s $21 billion acquisition of Speedway, in which she negotiated fuel contracts with Marathon Petroleum as lead fuel counsel.
The Association of Corporate Counsel has honored Cook twice with its Value Champion Award for work with two different law firms, Seyfarth Shaw and Perkins Coie.
Cook, who has two children, including a 10-year-old daughter, said one of the things she is most proud of is her involvement as treasurer and executive committee member of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas.
Cook received her law degree from Baylor in 2005.