INVNT Taps AI Chief to Redefine Brand Storytelling

NEW YORK, NY – December 17, 2025 – In a move signaling a deeper, executive-led commitment to artificial intelligence, global brand storytelling agency INVNT announced today the appointment of James Nicholas Kinney as its first-ever Global Chief AI Officer. The creation of the C-suite role is a strategic gambit to accelerate the integration of AI across every facet of the agency, from creative ideation to operational efficiency, positioning INVNT to meet the surging demand for technologically advanced brand experiences.

This appointment arrives as the marketing and advertising industry grapples with a monumental shift. Major holding companies are making massive financial commitments to AI, with giants like WPP and Publicis Groupe investing hundreds of millions annually to build proprietary AI platforms. Against this backdrop of large-scale tech development, INVNT’s strategy appears more focused and personified: embedding a leader with a distinct vision to steer the agency’s evolution.

A Strategic Bet in a Crowded AI Field

The market for AI in marketing is no longer nascent; it's exploding. With an estimated 92% of companies planning to increase their AI marketing budgets, the sector is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 26.7% through 2034. INVNT's decision to install a Chief AI Officer is a direct response to this reality, aiming to formalize its AI capabilities and differentiate itself in a competitive landscape.

While larger competitors build sprawling, all-encompassing AI operating systems, INVNT is banking on targeted leadership to drive its transformation. The agency is positioning Kinney’s role not merely as a technical function but as a central pillar of its business strategy. He is tasked with leading client-facing AI innovation, helping global brands scale their campaigns through intelligent machine learning, and uncovering new business opportunities grounded in AI-powered transformation. Reporting directly to Chairman and Chief Growth Officer Scott Cullather, the role’s seniority underscores its importance to the agency’s future.

“Business transformation happens when you connect the dots across industries, technologies, and the experience ecosystem,” Cullather commented in the official announcement. “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.”

The Human-Centric Technologist

What makes the appointment particularly noteworthy is Kinney’s unconventional and highly relevant background. He is not a typical technologist parachuted into a creative environment. Instead, his career represents a rare fusion of deep human resources leadership and advanced AI expertise. With AI certifications from MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and a Wharton program led by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Kinney possesses formidable technical credentials. He has also studied Python at Harvard.

This academic rigor is paired with a significant track record in shaping people-first cultures at some of the industry's most respected creative agencies. His leadership experience spans roles as Global Chief People Officer at .Monks (part of S4Capital) and Ogilvy, as well as influential tenures at Giant Spoon and Mother. At .Monks, he was instrumental in embedding AI across creative and production workflows and establishing an internal AI literacy academy. This background uniquely positions him to address one of the biggest challenges in the AI transition: the synergy between human talent and intelligent machines.

Cullather highlighted this unique blend, stating, “James is uniquely qualified for this role, one of the foremost minds in AI-enabled organizational 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 Proven Projects to Pervasive Integration

INVNT is not starting its AI journey from a standstill. The agency has already delivered several high-profile, AI-driven projects for some of the world’s biggest brands. It partnered with Microsoft to introduce its CoPilot AI assistant to the world and leveraged the tool throughout Microsoft's 50th Anniversary event. For Oracle AI World 2025, an event with over 60,000 attendees, INVNT developed the AI-powered creative and programmatic elements. Other notable projects include an AI-powered marketing campaign for Lamborghini's final Aventador and the development of a proprietary, patent-pending XR learning platform for devices like the Apple Vision Pro.

Kinney's mandate is to evolve the agency from delivering standout AI projects to creating a pervasive, fully integrated AI ecosystem. This involves building the internal systems, data lakes, and intelligent capabilities that will underpin all future work. The goal is to make AI an intrinsic part of the agency’s DNA, touching every department from strategy and creative to production and operations.

Kristina McCoobery, CEO of INVNT, emphasized this long-term vision. “INVNT has always believed in building what comes next. From AI-powered product launches to immersive global experiences and campaigns, we’ve proven that storytelling and technology elevate each other in extraordinary ways,” she said. McCoobery noted that Kinney will partner across all divisions “to strengthen INVNT’s AI operations, create greater efficiencies, and expand the agency’s data, tooling, and automation ecosystem.”

For his part, Kinney has articulated a clear mission. “INVNT is an innovation led brand story agency full of high performers. We dream big and build boldly,” he stated. “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.”

Navigating the Challenges of an AI-Powered Future

Despite the immense potential, the path to an AI-powered creative industry is fraught with challenges that INVNT and its new chief will have to navigate. Across the sector, agencies cite concerns over a potential decline in creative quality (35%) and a lack of in-house AI expertise (28%). There are also hurdles related to the cost of new technology, client skepticism, and the complex ethical landscape surrounding data privacy and intellectual property.

Many creatives worry that AI, while efficient, cannot replicate the nuance, emotional connection, and cultural context that are the hallmarks of great brand storytelling. Furthermore, as consumers become more aware of AI-generated content, brands face the risk of producing what some call “AI slop,” which can alienate audiences, particularly younger demographics like Gen Z who often view such content negatively.

Kinney’s appointment appears to be a direct attempt to confront these issues head-on. His background in organizational design and talent development suggests a focus on upskilling the existing workforce and fostering a culture where AI is seen as an augmentation tool, not a replacement for human creativity. His leadership will be critical in establishing governance frameworks that ensure ethical AI use, maintain creative authenticity, and demonstrate tangible, data-driven value to clients, moving the conversation beyond hype and toward measurable impact.