BJ Cunningham

Serial entrepreneur BJ Cunningham specialises in building brands with authenticity, depth, and the courage to challenge industry norms. As founder of the provocative DEATH Cigarettes brand that took on the European Court of Justice, a luxury footwear label, and a marketing agency serving global clients including Volkswagen and Nokia, he has consistently disrupted markets and created lasting commercial success. Now a council member of Business Superbrands and charismatic speaker on branding and customer loyalty, BJ demonstrates through real entrepreneurial experience that a brand is a promise, not a logo. His engaging presentations equip audiences with practical strategies to build authentic brands, deepen customer relationships, and create communities of genuinely engaged customers who champion their organisations.

As a teenager importing classic cars and Harley Davidsons from Los Angeles to London, BJ Cunningham learned his first hard lessons in entrepreneurship when the market collapsed beneath him. That early setback forged a philosophy that would define his career: brands must stand for something real, communicate with unflinching honesty, and possess the courage to challenge convention. From launching DEATH Cigarettes as 'the honest smoke', a brand so provocative it attracted opposition from the entire tobacco industry and every Member State of Europe in the European Court of Justice, to building a luxury footwear label that achieved over 50% annual growth, BJ has consistently demonstrated that authentic branding creates lasting commercial success. His ventures span integrated marketing agencies serving global clients including Volkswagen, Nokia and B&O, and most recently, the reinvention of DEATH Cigarettes as a streetwear brand, proving his ability to disrupt and adapt across industries.

BJ's credibility stems from decades of building brands that matter in fiercely competitive markets. He established an integrated brand marketing agency founded on the philosophy of 'Corporate Religion', successfully exiting after three years, and co-founded the Georgina Goodman luxury shoe brand with his wife, growing it from their Mayfair flagship store before selling both that venture and SocksoSimple. His entrepreneurial track record has earned him recognition as a council member of Business Superbrands and a Visiting Professor at Brighton University, where he shares hard-won insights on branding, marketing and customer relationships. Unlike theorists who have never risked their own capital, BJ speaks from lived experience of what it takes to create brands that cut through noise, build genuine loyalty, and survive the brutal realities of the marketplace. His understanding of brand depth over mere awareness comes from navigating regulatory battles, economic downturns, and the daily challenge of turning conviction into commercial reality.

BJ's presentations are honest, entertaining and immediately actionable. He shows audiences that a brand is a promise, not a logo, and that sustainable success requires organisations to know what they stand for, communicate it with clarity, and deliver on their commitments without compromise. Through compelling case studies drawn directly from his own ventures, he demonstrates how businesses can examine the authentic soul of their organisation and build communities of genuinely engaged customers. Whether challenging entrepreneurs to embrace provocation as a strategic tool, exploring how to deepen customer relationships beyond transactional exchanges, or revealing how to create visions that marry market position with genuine purpose, BJ equips audiences with practical strategies they can apply immediately. His speaking style transforms branding from abstract marketing theory into tangible commercial advantage, leaving business owners and marketing professionals with the confidence and tools to build brands that genuinely matter to the people they serve.