James Kirkham

James Kirkham co-founded Holler, one of the UK's first digital agencies, where he pioneered social-first campaigns - including marketing Skins as the first TV show sold through social media, years before influencer culture went mainstream. He went on to become Chief Business Officer at COPA90, transforming the football media brand into a global Gen Z platform with partnerships across Uber, Nike, Budweiser, Pepsi, and EA Sports, driving 100% revenue growth year-on-year.

As CMO at Defected Records, James led the independent house music label's digital revolution, including the viral Defected Virtual Festival during lockdown. He later founded ICONIC, an advisory firm and magazine tracking cultural shifts, and served as CBO at Harry Kane's Cleats Club. He has appeared on CNN, Sky News, Al Jazeera, BBC 5live, and Talk TV as a cultural commentator.

James has spoken on the Cannes Lions stage for six consecutive years, and keynotes at SXSW and Web Summit. His talks cover football as a cultural force, Gen Z media consumption, the future of fandom, and how brands earn attention in a post-advertising world.