James Robinson

I started Hello Starling because I wanted to build a media agency that did things differently. For years, I’d seen clients being sold media rather than advised strategically, and I knew there had to be a better way. My vision was simple: combine insight, creativity, and measurable results to deliver campaigns that truly make an impact.

From day one, Hello Starling has been about doing great work for good people. We began small, helping local organisations get more from their budgets, and today we work with national brands, public sector bodies, and destinations across the UK. But our mission hasn’t changed - maximum attention, the right media mix, and results that matter.

I’ve always been inspired by people who build something from the ground up. That courage to spot a gap and do something about it drove me forward. Early in my career, I worked at media owners where the focus was on selling, not solving, and that frustration became my motivation. I wanted to prove that media planning could be both creative and accountable - and that strategy and measurement could sit side by side.

The journey hasn’t been easy. Like most founders, I’ve faced plenty of challenges - balancing growth with sustainability, learning to delegate, and navigating tough financial moments. But every obstacle taught me resilience and reminded me that progress is rarely linear. If you stay focused on doing great work, you find your way through.

The best part of being my own boss? Freedom. Freedom to shape an agency that reflects my values - from introducing a four-day work week and prioritising wellbeing to choosing projects that make a real difference. Seeing ideas turn into reality is incredibly rewarding. It’s not always easy, but the sense of ownership and purpose makes every challenge worth it.