With more than 25 years of industry and strategic leadership experience, Mr. James has worked with major organizations across music, live entertainment, artist management, experiential branding, and corporate strategy, engaging with groups such as Live Nation Entertainment, HMV, AEG, and Mushroom Group. Mr. James has co-led two of the most successful growth businesses in the live music sector. He floated Mean Fiddler’s dotcom business in 2000 before its eventual sale to Live Nation Entertainment for £55 million in 2005, and he co-founded MAMA Group, which grew to become one of the UK’s largest live music and artist management groups prior to its sale to HMV for £64 million five years later.

Prior to joining A&M, Mr. James qualified as a lawyer and worked in strategic roles at Inchcape and EY, where he focused on corporate strategy and value creation before transitioning to the music industry. Mr. James’ notable assignments include the creation and scaling of MAMA Group and spearheading the sale of Mean Fiddler’s dotcom business to Live Nation. After selling MAMA Group, he joined Chugg Entertainment—one of Australia’s largest live music and artist management groups—and left shortly before its sale to AEG via a merger with Mushroom Group. Mr. James then co-founded SAMBA Group, a holding company for interests in brand experiential businesses with offices in London, Sydney, and Los Angeles.

Mr. James earned an MBA (with distinction) from Warwick Business School.