BJ Cunningham

Founder of Death Cigarettes & Georgina Goodman Limited, Member of the Superbrands Council & Owner of BJ Cunningham Limited

BJ Cunningham’s Biography:

BJ Cunningham is a renowned brand consultant, consumer trends expert and entrepreneur best known for founding Death Cigarettes, one of the most disruptive and talked-about consumer brands of its time. Through his pioneering approach to branding, BJ transformed a controversial concept into a global case study in marketing innovation, earning recognition as one of the industry’s most original thinkers. His expertise has been sought by some of the world’s leading organisations, including Volkswagen and Nokia, while his strategic insight continues to influence businesses looking to build stronger brands, create competitive differentiation and better understand evolving consumer behaviour. As a speaker, he shares practical lessons on branding, innovation, entrepreneurship and market disruption.

BJ’s entrepreneurial journey began in 1990 when he founded Death Cigarettes, a venture that challenged conventional marketing principles and established his reputation as a fearless innovator. Building on this success, he became Managing Partner at Kunde & Co in 1997, helping to grow the agency before its eventual sale. In 2002, he launched BJ Cunningham Limited and founded Georgina Goodman Limited, further expanding his influence across luxury retail and brand development. Alongside Georgina Goodman luxury shoes, he also established SocksoSimple bamboo socks, demonstrating his ability to create successful businesses across diverse sectors.

Throughout his career, BJ has been recognised for his contribution to branding and marketing, serving as a member of the prestigious Superbrands Council. His expertise has also led to numerous advisory and consultancy positions with globally recognised organisations. As a Visiting Professor at Brighton University since 2012, he has shared his knowledge with future generations of marketers, entrepreneurs and business leaders while remaining at the forefront of consumer trend analysis and brand strategy.

Today, BJ works as a Board-Level Marketing Consultant, advising major organisations including McDonald’s, Microsoft, Diageo, Bowers & Wilkins, Volkswagen and Şişecam. His unique blend of entrepreneurial experience, academic insight and commercial expertise makes him a highly respected authority on brand creation, consumer engagement and business growth. Whether discussing innovation, marketing strategy or emerging consumer trends, BJ delivers thought-provoking insights grounded in decades of real-world experience.

Why Hire BJ Cunningham?

BJ Cunningham is hired as a speaker for his rare combination of entrepreneurial success, branding expertise and deep understanding of consumer behaviour. Drawing on decades of experience creating, scaling and advising businesses, he provides audiences with practical strategies for building memorable brands and driving growth in competitive markets. His engaging presentations explore innovation, disruption, marketing psychology and changing consumer expectations, offering valuable lessons for leaders, marketers and entrepreneurs alike. BJ’s experience working with global brands and challenger businesses enables him to deliver fresh perspectives that inspire audiences to think differently and act decisively.

BJ Cunningham‘s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define BJ Cunningham’s remarkable career:

  • 2012 – Appointed Visiting Professor at Brighton University, educating future business and marketing professionals.
  • 2002 – Founded BJ Cunningham Limited to provide strategic branding, consultancy and business development services.
  • 2002 – Founded Georgina Goodman Limited, helping establish a respected luxury footwear brand.
  • 2000s – Launched SocksoSimple bamboo socks, expanding his entrepreneurial portfolio into sustainable consumer products.
  • 1997 – Became Managing Partner of Kunde & Co, contributing to the agency’s growth and commercial success.
  • 1990s – Developed Death Cigarettes into a globally recognised branding case study and integrated brand agency.
  • 1990 – Founded Death Cigarettes, creating one of the most disruptive consumer brands of its era.
  • Career Achievement – Served as a member of the Superbrands Council, helping shape discussions around branding excellence and market leadership.

“BJ was fantastic. He weaved his messages and learning points into a personal, engaging story that gave insight to his decision-making and attitude to life and leadership. Very charming – engaged my whole audience and had the whole room laughing” – Royal Mail

“This is the second time I have engaged BJ and he does not disappoint! His inspirational and motivational presentation was right on the button, he managed to capture the mood of the meeting and use his experience to illustrate the business’s advantage. He is an honest presenter and does not pull punches. He is down to earth and has good stories to tell which can be related to business practice. He is an inspiration and an audience pleaser, highly recommended if you need a witty, inspirational speaker for your event.” – Businesslink

“Having BJ recount his life experiences felt like an energising spark showing you the door to your dreams saying ‘go for it’.” – Richmond Events 

“BJ was masterful. The perfect balance between serious messages, life lessons, provocative thinking and straightforward humour. It was our pleasure to put him on stage. We loved him. He made our event better” – Euroheat & Power 

“I feel the audience was captivated by BJ’s story – he was extremely interesting and inspiring” – Best Western & Consort Hotels Group

“We booked BJ to speak at the Driver Hire Conference – and we’re so glad we did. He was entertaining, edgy, thought-provoking, charming, insightful, relevant, uplifting, original… the list goes on. Many professional speakers cover broadly similar themes (and I’ve seen a few over the years). None of them do it quite like BJ. Definitely one of the best. Thanks, BJ” – Richard, Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group Services

“Influencers are a tough audience, they aren’t impressed by much. BJ smashed it. The audience in the room was captivated, involved and engaged. The audience online stayed online (a bit of a miracle). I’ve never heard so much laughter in a hall at a Summit event. Fabulous.” – INFLOW Global Summit

“Simply the best speaker I have ever seen (and that was on Zoom!), phenomenal” – Mike, CEO, IS-CL Summit