James Summerfield

James Summerfield

James Summerfield

Profile

Brand, Product & Experience Design Executive

Designing brands and products that connect creative vision to measurable business growth.

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Meet James

James Summerfield is a brand and product executive with over 30 years of experience building companies, products, and teams.

From industrial design to digital platforms and venture-backed startups, his career bridges creative vision and business execution. As a former CEO, CPO, CXO, and board member, he has led organizations through growth and transformation, always grounding innovation in strong research and clear strategy.

James now partners with founders and leadership teams to sharpen brand positioning, define product direction, and build the right foundation for sustainable growth. He is known for thoughtful leadership, strategic clarity, and an ability to turn ambition into action.

Outside of work, James enjoys kiteboarding and spending time with his family — priorities that help him maintain balance and perspective.

Versive was quick to understand our challenges and articulate how to differentiate our brand. They came up with a brand architecture that fundamentally simplified and streamlined our approach to our business and its communications.
Paul Ezekiel, Executive Chairman and CIO
AMP
At Capstone, we see the world differently. James successfully packaged that for us to critical appraise from our team, prospective employees and investors. That’s why we hired him.
Paul Britton, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Capstone Investment Advisors
We had a very limited amount of time to get the Amp brand relaunched and Versive met and exceeded our expectations at every step. Versive have been true partners to us and, because they think as a part of our own team, brought significant thought leadership to the table, and they're always focussed on how to build value for us.
Dave Rogers, President and CEO
AMP

Selected experience

Co-Founder, Versive

Leads experience design research, product innovation, and brand transformation initiatives for B2B and B2C organizations across sustainable energy, apparel, financial services, healthcare, and luxury.

Founding Partner & Brand Advisor, Reaction

Advises a global venture capital community focused on scaling innovations that address meaningful global challenges.

Founder & CEO, Adoptive

Built and led a strategy, design, and technology firm delivering innovation and growth initiatives for enterprise and emerging brands.

Co-Founder & Board Member, Unigo

Helped build the business from seed and Series A funding to becoming the #1 college search platform in the U.S., partnering with U.S. News & World Report and securing institutional investment from McGraw-Hill.

Managing Partner, Deepend New York

Led the strategic practice of the globally recognized digital agency, working with clients including Accenture, Citigroup, Microsoft, Virgin, and The British Council.

Industrial Designer, Pentagram London

Worked on Kenneth Grange’s team developing products from concept to launch across consumer electronics and transport for brands including Bowers & Wilkins, Motorola, Samsung, Royal Mail, and the London Taxi Company.