Two founders, one A List: Chris & Catherine make their Campaign A-List 2026 debut
February 17, 2026
Two founders, one A List!
Congratulations to Chris Cookson and Catherine Orr for their debut on this year’s Campaign UK A List 2026 – a compendium of industry voices shaping the future of advertising.
From leadership and AI to the future of our industry, all the way to pitch-winning outfits (guess which of our co-founders will never be seen without their signature cowboy boots ) – we get to pick their brains, alongside other inspiring industry leaders.
This exclusive online directory reveals the thoughts on life and work of more than 200 leaders which can be accessed here: https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/alist/2026
Read their full answers below.
Chris Cookson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Describe your 2025 in three words.
Exhilarating, fun, tiring.
Finish the sentence: The future of advertising is…
…social first.
Name the last podcast you listened to.
The Rest is Politics: Leading. I enjoy hearing the life journeys of inspirational leaders; many of whom have had rich and varied career history.
What’s your favourite pitching outfit?
Green shirt!
Are you bored of being asked questions about AI?
No – embrace it, learn how to use it best, or get left behind.
What advice would you give to a newly redundant adlander?
n/s
What time do you go to bed?
11pm.
Faithful or Traitor?
Faithful.
Catherine Orr, Founder and Chief Commercial Officer
Describe your 2025 in three words.
Madness, martinis, (early) mornings.
Finish the sentence: The future of advertising is…
…on our phones.
Name the last podcast you listened to.
The Good Whale (again).
What’s your favourite pitching outfit?
Something simple, comfortable (breathable!), and always finished off with my red cowboy boots.
Are you bored of being asked questions about AI?
Never bored. I’m equally excited and scared by AI; I’d love to see more conversations this year about how it can impact the world positively. Less Grok, more healthcare diagnostics.
What advice would you give to a newly redundant adlander?
As a chronically impatient person, my dad’s advice to me often is “let the hair sit”. Try to take a beat, speak to as many people as you possibly can, don’t be afraid to reach out to new people and consider every meeting or random conversation as an opportunity.
What time do you go to bed?
Too late. I’m a real night owl, which doesn’t bode well since I moved to New York and have to be up early for UK calls.
Faithful or Traitor?
I am a terrible liar. I think I’d crumble at the first interrogation, but I would enjoy the thrill. So Traitor, but outed at the first round table.
