Cut to the Chase with James Rayburn, President/CEO, charlieuniformtango | Ep. 4-Buying an agency, Punk Rock, and technical difficulties

In episode 4 or our agency interview series, we’re with James Rayburn, President and CEO of charlieuniformtango, and we’re talking buying an agency, Punk Rock, and technical difficulties (well. we experience those, but it’s fun.)

This is Cut to the Chase, the RSW/US interview series that delivers brief, but impactful views from ad agency principals on growth strategies and the challenges that come with it in today’s weird, evolving landscape.

James Rayburn joined charlieuniformtango in 2002 as an Assistant Editor at just 22. It turned out to be the perfect way to learn the business, and in 2009, James was promoted to Editor, doing award-winning work for household-name clients like FIAT, Universal Studios and Dr Pepper.

Fast forward to 2019, and James and two of his colleagues, Joey Waldrip and Deedle LaCour, approached Tango founders, Lola Lott and Jack Waldrip, with a plan to buy the company.

In 2021, after a two-year transitional phase, the sale of the company was finalized, and James became the company’s President and CEO.

About charlieuniformtango:

For more than 25 years, charlieuniformtango has been an industry leader in film and postproduction.

The company delivers results across all mediums – from second screen to silver screen.

Its growing roster of international clients includes American Airlines, Abercrombie & Fitch, FIAT, Jeep, Lexus, McDonald’s, Dr Pepper, Ram, H.E.B., Samsung, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Universal Orlando.

Some key highlights from our interview and buying an agency:

James actually goes with answering an RFP instead of a fork to the hand! 1:26

James talks charlieuniformtango (CUT) and how its evolved with the times 2:41

Starting at CUT at just 22 years old and making his way up the ladder 5:35

Making Filmage: The Story of DESCENDENTS/All, a feature-length documentary about the punk-rock band, The Descendents. Showcasing more than 50 interviews with legends like Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and Mark Hopkins (Blink-182), the film won rave reviews – and awards – from festivals around the world. 6:49

Buying an agency-purchasing CUT-was it always the plan? 10:10

The advice James would give to someone considering buying an agency 11:43

James talks the 2-year transitional phase before he, Joey, and Deedle purchased the agency 12:45

The odyssey begins for Lee & James where technical difficulties and a crying baby make things fun-Deedle also makes an appearance (we’ve all been there!) 13:57

James talks the best thing about our industry (advertising) 15:50

And the worst: 18:02

Thanks for being on Cut to the Chase, James!

Key URLs:

Charlieuniformtango http://charlieuniformtango.com/

James’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ray…

Filmage: The Story of DESCENDENTS/All https://filmagemovie.com/