We help brands and agencies build trusted, productive and enduring partnerships that inspire marketing excellence.
At KJK we understand the challenges facing clients and agencies today. As experienced marketing professionals, we have firsthand knowledge of the issues that arise in client-agency relationships, and the impact these struggles have on marketing successes.
We launched KJK to bring an objective and pragmatic approach to the industry, promoting collaboration and strengthening relationships. Our goal is to help all people involved in the marketing ecosystem lead more fulfilling professional lives, empowering them to produce amazing work that yields better outcomes, drives sales and increases ROI.
Our deeply collaborative approach, combined with an experienced client-side perspective and core values of integrity and empathy, set KJK apart and ensure that you are set up for success.
PEOPLE
James Kirtland
James is a global partnerships and marketing executive with over 25 years of broad leadership experience at blue-chip companies working across multiple disciplines and markets. Having worked at the intersection of global marketing teams and their agency partners, he is highly skilled in designing and deploying high-impact initiatives that build client-agency partnerships and streamline marketing operations to support the growth of global brands.
James founded KJK to help brands and agencies get the most out of their partnerships after seeing firsthand the challenges and opportunities associated with both well and poorly managed relationships, and the impact they can have on the quality of work, productivity, team morale and return on investment.
Prior to this, James led the partnership strategy and oversight of all global creative, media, and experiential marketing agencies at American Express for 10 years, with enterprise-wide accountability to optimize investments and support the company’s accolade as “best global brand” in financial services. In this role, James transformed the agency management function making it a more strategic, global and consultative advisor to the company’s 3,500 marketers worldwide.
James is a highly respected industry figure, frequently cited in research papers and invited to speak on panels at industry events. He holds an MBA from Cornell University, where he serves as an Executive in Residence, leading corporate partnerships for entrepreneurial ventures in the Technology and Life Science sectors. Outside of work James has a passion for travel, good food and fine wine. His roots are important to him and James often returns to the UK with his family so that his children remain connected to their British side.
VALUES
They embody what we stand for and guide our approach to how we work with our clients.
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Trust
We prioritize building trusted relationships with clients based on honesty, reliability, consistency, and dependability. We foster open communications ensuring transparency at every stage of our engagement and beyond.
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Integrity
We operate with integrity, with a strong moral and ethical code that governs our business practices and behaviors. We are dedicated to doing the right thing, even if it is not always the easiest or most profitable course of action.
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Collaboration
We work collaboratively with clients to achieve their goals. We believe that together, through teamwork, we build stronger relationships and deliver winning strategies.
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Empathy
We build client relationships on a foundation of empathy and understanding, to see things from our client’s perspective, allowing us to arrive at a solution that best addresses their needs and concerns.
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Objectivity
We pride ourselves on being completely impartial with zero client/agency relationship bias. This perspective is critical in our ability to accurately assess the status quo, address any problems, and develop strategies that will deliver the best outcomes for our clients.
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Pragmatism
We are practical and straightforward in our approach, avoiding complex language or processes. We aim to make things simpler and more efficient while ensuring the solutions we provide are robust and effective.
