Business Strategy & Creative — Los Angeles

James
Ryan
Roberts

Strategically creative. Right brain and left brain, on the same payroll — two decades turning enterprise relationships and creative production into renewal numbers that beat benchmark.

RoleDirector of Business Strategy, Customer Success & Creative Services
FocusCustomer Success ⇄ Strategy ⇄ Creative Production
AvailableFull-time · Contract · Project
BasedLos Angeles, CA
COMMERCIAL CREATIVE Reads wherever the
work needs it most
Approach

A fresh set of eyes with a bias for increasing revenue and profitability.

Two decades leading enterprise account management, contract negotiation, and revenue growth strategy across technology, retail, and creative industries — with a track record of renewal and retention numbers that consistently clear benchmark, and teams that get built and mentored along the way.

The analytical side and the creative side aren't kept in separate lanes. Client relationships turn into measurable business results because the same person negotiating the contract also understands the creative work behind it.

James Ryan Roberts leading a workshop session
Preferred job title Swiss Army Knife
Experience

Two decades. Six companies. One thread.

10/2021 — Present
Pixelz · Customer Success Director, North America

Leads NA Customer Success and enterprise account strategy; closed the company's most important contract renewal on record — by the CEO's own characterization — and landed a Statement of Work that made one client the first to adopt every product line, while successfully defending a long-term Enterprise RFP and retaining 100% of contract terms. Recovered delinquent receivables equal to 370% of annual salary within the first year, negotiates multi-year renewal price increases averaging 3–5% on SOW extensions and renewals across Enterprise and large Professional-tier accounts, and separately grew one legacy flagship account's profit margin by 30%+ through price increase negotiations during its own SOW renewal. Serves as Master of Ceremonies for NA industry events and a recurring webinar host and guest speaker.

12/2018 — 05/2020
CONVYR · Studio Director

Grew studio revenue more than 115% in year one — exceeding gross profit margin KPIs by 5% company-wide and 12% on directly supervised projects — and modernized the production and technology stack company-wide. Negotiated the company's largest service provider agreement, securing an annual license buyout advance valued 18%+ above standard terms, and built a proprietary project estimate calculator to standardize scoping.

08/2017 — 07/2018
netamorphosis · Head of Creative Content & Client Development

Served as trusted advisor to the CEO on client and partner strategy, standardized the sales and contracting process company-wide, and led the photography and technical style guide for a full e-commerce brand relaunch.

08/2009 — 08/2017
Blank Screen Visuals · Visual Content Strategy & Production

Owned content strategy and production for national beauty, retail, and hospitality brand accounts; directed a 40-foot custom art installation for a luxury hotel lobby.

03/2005 — 08/2009
NEO Studios · Managing Partner

Built the studio from an early-stage startup into a fully profitable business within three years, delivering 30%+ annual revenue growth.

01/2000 — 02/2005
Colliers International · Commercial Real Estate, Retail Specialist

Brokered national retail leasing deals and founded the firm's southeast regional landlord disposition team.

Spectrum

Left brain. Right brain. One hire.

Commercial
  • P&L ownership & forecasting
  • Org design & team leadership
  • Enterprise account management & renewals
  • Contract negotiation & pricing strategy
  • Cross-functional stakeholder alignment
Craft
  • Creative & art direction
  • Brand storytelling & visual systems
  • Photo & video production
  • Campaign concepting
  • Design critique & taste
Competencies

What gets put to work.

Customer Success Strategy & Leadership Enterprise Account Management Contract Negotiation & Renewals Revenue Growth & Retention Strategy Cross-Functional & Global Collaboration Business Development & Market Analysis Creative Direction & Content Strategy Data-Driven Decision Making Process Optimization Budget & Financial Modeling Public Speaking
Flavor
NYC Work Ethic Southern Manners Cali Energy
Toolkit

What it runs on.

Claude ChatClaude CodeClaude DesignGemini & Notebook LM AsanaHubspot PlanhatSlackAdobe Photoshop, Bridge & LightroomMicrosoft Office Google Workspace SuiteQuickBooksVisual ComposerWordPress SketchCapture One
Engagement

Ways to work together.

01

Full-Time

A permanent seat leading creative services, embedded in the team and accountable to the roadmap.

02

Contract

Fixed-term leadership for a defined stretch — a launch, a rebuild, a gap that needs covering now.

03

Project-Based

Scoped in, scoped out. Brought on for a specific outcome with a clear start and finish line.