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James Ray
CEO – Leadership TeamAfter beginning my career client-side as a graduate trainee with WHSmith, I joined Armadillo - a young creative agency with a growing reputation for direct marketing - as an Account Executive in 1996.
I went on to spearhead the agency’s evolution into an award winning direct and digital agency, fusing data, insight, strategy and creative flair with Armadillo’s characteristic pragmatism and common sense, to deliver successful CRM strategies for brands like McDonald’s, Disney, Hotels.com and Oxfam.
I became Client Services Director in 2003, and Board Director and Partner in 2008 and Managing Director in 2013. In 2017 I became CEO after leading a successful management buy-out of the agency with Executive Chairman Chris Thurling and CFO Andy Brown.
I’m a hybrid of skills and experience, with talents covering planning, strategy and client service. I love steering creative projects (almost) as much as I love being knee deep in data. And I’m obsessive about finding solutions and proving results.