Global brand storytelling agency INVNT has appointed James Nicholas Kinney as its first global chief AI officer. Working across all markets, with a focus on the APAC region, the role is designed to bring new AI-powered solutions to clients while expanding the agency’s AI ecosystem and strengthening its data, insights, and tooling infrastructure.
In establishing this role, INVNT aims to accelerate the integration of AI across every department and division at the agency, from strategy and creative to production, and operations , building new internal systems, data lakes, and intelligent capabilities to shape the next generation of experience and brand engagement.
Kinney has AI certifications from MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Wharton – the program led by LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman. Blending experience as a global chief people officer with technological fluency, he has centered his career on people, culture, talent, and large-scale AI evolution. His leadership background spans .Monks, part of S4Capital, and Ogilvy, as well as shaping people-first cultures at Giant Spoon and Mother.
“Business transformation happens when you connect the dots across industries, technologies, and the experience ecosystem. INVNT has always been at the forefront of innovation-led brandstory. Adding a Global Chief AI Officer to our leadership team marks the next step in that evolution for our clients, our agency and the industry at large,” INVNT’s chairman and chief growth officer Scott Cullather said.
“James is uniquely qualified for this role, one of the foremost minds in AI-enabled organisational design with a rare blend of HR leadership, agency experience, and advanced AI training. He understands how humans and machines can coexist to drive meaningful progress, from operational maximalism to predictive analytics and client-forward solutions. His leadership will accelerate INVNT’s future as the best-in-class experience agency enhanced by AI,” Cullather added.
Over the last 17 years, INVNT has partnered with the global brands, including Microsoft, Oracle, Xero and Lamborghini, to merge creativity with state-of-the-art innovation, tapping AI-driven brand storytelling.
Kinney will be responsible for leading client-facing AI innovation, helping global brands scale their experiences and campaigns through intelligent machine learning, and driving new business opportunities grounded in AI-powered transformation. He will report directly to Cullather.
“APAC continues to be one of our fastest growing regions for innovation-led work. Expanding our AI capabilities is a natural next step as we scale experiences across AI, XR, and other emerging technologies, while staying closely aligned with our global teams. This move gives our clients in the region access to deeper intelligence, better tools, and more connected ways of working, helping them turn ambition into real-world impact,” INVNT’s MD APAC Laura Roberts said.
“INVNT is an innovation led brand story agency full of high performers. We dream big and build boldly. My role is to bring AI into that ethos, to create greater impact for our clients and drive operational acceleration for our employees around the world. We will enable global cultural alignment with clear language, shared understanding, and unified execution,” Kinney added.
