About
Experience. Judgement. Perspective.
Ready Group was founded in Hong Kong in 2018 to advise a select group of companies, founders and senior executives — combining strategic perspective with a strong bias toward execution.
Founder
Jim Costello
Founder, Ready Group Hong Kong
Jim Costello is the founder of Ready Group and has more than 30 years of leadership experience across the military, financial services and international business.
He began his career as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army, serving in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. He subsequently built a senior career in banking and insurance, holding leadership roles in the United States, Hong Kong and mainland China.
His roles included leading HSBC's life insurance business in Hong Kong and serving as Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Life Insurance China.
Jim founded Ready Group in Hong Kong in 2018 to advise a select group of companies, founders and senior executives. His approach combines strategic perspective, commercial discipline, direct communication and a strong bias toward execution.
Having operated inside large global institutions and alongside entrepreneurial businesses, Jim understands both sides of the table: how major organizations make decisions and how growing companies must position themselves to earn attention, trust and commercial commitment.
Alongside his advisory work, Jim also runs a real estate business in Japan, giving him direct, current experience as a founder and operator navigating capital, partnerships, regulation and growth in one of Asia's largest markets.
He now advises a select group of founders, leadership teams and technology companies, bringing senior judgement, commercial discipline and a practical understanding of how organisations make decisions and create momentum.
Ready Group also draws on a trusted international network of specialists and partners where assignments require additional sector, market or technical expertise.
Geographic reach
Based in Hong Kong, Ready Group brings operating experience and trusted relationships across Greater China, Japan, the United States and selected international markets.
Working methodology
Judgement-led. Technology-enabled.
Ready Group uses modern AI-enabled tools across its own businesses and advisory work to strengthen research, analysis, testing, drafting and production.
This is an established working methodology rather than a separate technology service. It is used in areas such as business planning, product and platform review, market analysis, website development, proposition design and operational execution.
Technology improves the speed, range and quality of the work, but it does not replace professional judgement. Experience determines the questions to ask, the assumptions to challenge and the conclusions that matter. Important work is reviewed, verified and approved by people.
AI drafts. The professional challenges. The system verifies. The human approves.
Philosophy
A practical leadership philosophy
Clarity matters. Accountability matters. Relationships matter.
Ready Group helps clients focus on the decisions that will make the greatest difference — and then supports them in moving those decisions forward.