He walked into a struggling mom-and-pop taco joint, ordered quietly, and took a bite. Moments later, with nothing but an iPhone and his signature soft-spoken delivery, he changed the restaurant’s fate forever. In early 2024, Keith Lee, the unassuming yet influential TikTok food critic, turned Los Angeles’ dining scene upside down. His honest, no-frills reviews catapulted small, overlooked eateries into overnight sensations—sometimes tripling their business in days. One video, one reaction, and suddenly, lines wrapped around the block.
What followed wasn’t just viral content; it was a masterclass in modern influencer marketing. Brands, agencies, and CEOs across LA took notes. Lee had cracked the code—authenticity over polish, trust over advertising. Today, influencer marketing agencies are racing to replicate his magic, blending storytelling with strategy to redefine brand success. And behind every successful campaign in the city of stars, there’s a leader pulling the strings.
Welcome to the power players of LA’s influencer marketing industry—here are the Top 16 CEOs of LA influencer marketing agencies.
Meet the Visionaries Behind LA’s Influencer Marketing Empire
From viral moments to multi-million dollar campaigns, influencer marketing in Los Angeles is powered by visionary CEOs who turn digital influence into business success. These leaders run top influencer marketing agencies, crafting innovative strategies that shape how brands connect with audiences. Whether leveraging data-driven insights or harnessing the storytelling power of creators, these CEOs are defining the future of brand engagement.
1. Jess Flack
Jess Flack isn’t just keeping up with the influencer marketing game—she’s rewriting the rules. As the CEO and co-founder of Ubiquitous, she’s turned a once-scattered industry into a data-driven powerhouse, helping brands like Disney, Target, and Amazon crack the code of viral success.
Before launching Ubiquitous in 2020, Jess led performance marketing at Bellhop, where she didn’t just move numbers—she moved entire growth strategies, scaling ad spend while optimizing returns. That analytical mindset, paired with a deep understanding of influencer marketing’s wild landscape, set the foundation for what Ubiquitous has become today: a go-to agency for brands looking to dominate TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Under Jess’s leadership, Ubiquitous has onboarded 300+ businesses, collaborated with 4,000+ influencers, and managed tens of millions in ad spend. But it’s not just about the numbers—it’s about making influencer marketing seamless, measurable, and actually effective. From end-to-end campaign management to a proprietary platform designed to streamline partnerships, Ubiquitous is changing the game one viral moment at a time.
Beyond the boardroom, Jess is a cinephile, foodie, musician, and proud dog mom—but let’s be honest, these days, running Ubiquitous might be the most thrilling story she’s ever been a part of.
2. Alex Elsea
Few people can say they helped introduce TikTok influencer marketing to the U.S., but Alex Elsea isn’t just anyone. As the CEO and founder of MOMENTiQ, he’s pioneering a new era of TikTok Shop dominance, proving that social commerce isn’t the future—it’s already here.
Before launching MOMENTiQ in 2023, Alex co-founded Ubiquitous, the first mass-market U.S. agency focused on TikTok influencer marketing. His work didn’t just put brands in front of millions—it reshaped how businesses approach creator-driven campaigns. Now, with MOMENTiQ, he’s taking things a step further, leading the charge in live selling and TikTok Shop campaigns.
Under his leadership, MOMENTiQ has been named TikTok’s #1 Shop Ads Agency in the Ad Inventors category and has delivered jaw-dropping results—like generating $100M+ in annual revenue for shop brands, hitting 30M+ U.S. impressions per live event, and breaking records for live selling revenue.
Beyond revenue and rankings, Alex is redefining agency culture. Every full-time team member at MOMENTiQ holds equity, ensuring the company’s success is truly a shared mission. His leadership isn’t just about growth—it’s about innovation, collaboration, and building something that lasts.
3. Jason Pampell
Long before influencer marketing became the go-to strategy for brands, Jason Pampell was already pioneering the space. As the founder and CEO of HireInfluence, he launched the agency in 2011, making it one of the longest-standing influencer marketing firms in the industry. Over a decade later, his innovative, full-service approach continues to set the gold standard.
Under Jason’s leadership, HireInfluence has worked with Fortune 500 brands, delivering tailored, high-impact influencer campaigns. The agency’s dedication to excellence hasn’t gone unnoticed—Ad World Masters named it the 2022 Marketing Agency of the Year, solidifying its reputation as a top player.
But HireInfluence isn’t just another influencer agency—it’s a 360-degree marketing powerhouse. With in-house campaign structuring, creative talent sourcing, paid media management, and experiential brand activations, Jason has built a firm that delivers both strategy and execution at the highest level. No outsourcing, no shortcuts—just results.
Beyond running a powerhouse agency, Jason is also a thought leader in the industry. As a Featured Writer for the Forbes Agency Council, he shares deep insights into evolving content marketing trends, helping shape the future of digital influence.
With a 60% client renewal rate and a track record of adapting to the ever-changing social media landscape, Jason continues to redefine what it means to run an influencer marketing agency.
4. Cole Mason
When Cole Mason co-founded Pearpop in 2020, he wasn’t just launching another influencer marketing agency—he was reinventing the game. Pearpop isn’t about brokering traditional brand deals. Instead, it’s a tech-driven collaboration platform that lets brands instantly tap into a network of 200,000+ vetted creators to amplify campaigns at scale. Think of it as influencer marketing, but streamlined, data-driven, and built for the digital age.
Pearpop’s approach has earned industry-wide recognition, landing a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies List and winning Digiday’s Influencer Marketing Platform of the Year in 2022. Major brands like Netflix, Amazon, and Microsoft—plus music icons like Madonna, Doja Cat, and Shawn Mendes—have all leveraged Pearpop’s platform to drive engagement, virality, and ROI like never before.
But Cole isn’t stopping at just making influencer marketing more accessible—he’s pushing the boundaries with AI. Under his leadership, Pearpop launched PAIR, an AI-powered creator vetting tool that helps brands find the right influencers in seconds. The result? Smarter campaigns, faster execution, and higher returns.
Beyond business, Cole’s motivation is clear: helping creators monetize their content more effectively. He saw a gap in the market—where even big-name influencers struggled to turn followers into income—and built a solution that empowers them to partner with brands effortlessly.
From securing $18M in funding (bringing Pearpop’s valuation to $300M) to speaking at industry events like Social Media Week 2024, Cole Mason is more than just a CEO—he’s reshaping the creator economy.
5. Jesse Leimgruber
At just 19 years old, Jesse Leimgruber co-founded NeoReach in 2014, setting out to revolutionize influencer marketing with data-driven technology. A Stanford-educated computer scientist and Thiel Fellow, Jesse didn’t just want to connect brands with influencers—he wanted to engineer a smarter way to do it.
Today, NeoReach is one of the leading influencer marketing platforms, having driven over $50M in revenue for Fortune 500 brands. The agency played a pivotal role in TikTok’s U.S. launch, recruiting influencers to help transition from Musical.ly to TikTok—a move that reshaped social media forever.
Jesse’s entrepreneurial journey started long before NeoReach. At 16, he bootstrapped RageHats, an e-commerce marketplace that pulled in $50K per month, and later founded Rank Executives, a digital marketing agency managing campaigns for Polaroid, Nissan, and Philips. His track record? Spotting digital trends before they explode and turning them into high-growth ventures.
Beyond NeoReach, Jesse is a partner at Alchemist Accelerator, mentoring startups on scaling enterprise solutions. He’s also a public speaker at major industry events, where he shares insights on influencer marketing, AI, and the creator economy.
6. David Morneau
As the CEO and co-founder of inBeat Agency, David has built a powerhouse that blends data-driven strategy with creative storytelling, helping brands like Bumble, P&G, and Levi’s launch high-performing influencer campaigns.
Since launching inBeat in 2018, David has spearheaded a hybrid SaaS/agency model, offering both an influencer discovery platform and a full-service marketing agency. His expertise? Leveraging micro-influencers to drive conversions and lower CPAs, a strategy that has helped over 200 direct-to-consumer brands thrive in competitive markets.
With a strong presence in Los Angeles, inBeat collaborates with top-tier local creators to craft viral, performance-driven campaigns. And the results speak for themselves—brands working with inBeat have seen anything from a 73% drop in customer acquisition costs to a 600% boost in daily installs.
Beyond agency work, David is also an industry thought leader, sharing insights on TikTok marketing, paid media strategies, and influencer outreach. His work isn't just about connecting brands with influencers—it's about creating campaigns that make a measurable impact.
7. Eric Dahan
Eric Dahan has turned Open Influence into a global powerhouse, working with industry giants like Disney, Google, Amazon, and Coca-Cola to revolutionize brand storytelling through creators.
Since launching Open Influence in 2013, Eric has expanded the agency’s reach beyond Los Angeles, setting up offices in New York, Chicago, London, Milan, and Hong Kong. His mission? Bringing the human element back to advertising by empowering influencers to craft authentic, high-impact content that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 and Inc. 30 Under 30 honoree, Eric is an industry thought leader, regularly sharing insights on influencer trends and digital marketing strategies. His expertise in digital strategy, social media, and e-commerce has helped over a thousand top-tier brands navigate the evolving creator economy with data-driven, scalable campaigns.
Beyond Open Influence, Eric is a serial entrepreneur with ventures like Mighty Joy, bridging the gap between creators and commerce.
8. Vera Kopp
As the founder and CEO of inCast, Vera has transformed the way companies connect with digital creators, crafting data-driven, high-impact campaigns that span continents.
With offices in Los Angeles, São Paulo, and Miami, inCast has worked with over 180 clients and engaged more than 6,000 influencers and celebrities. But what really sets inCast apart? Its mastery of TikTok marketing. As an official agency for the TikTok Creator Learning Fund, inCast has helped over 1,500 creators level up their content and brand partnerships.
Vera’s background is as dynamic as her agency. A Stanford and California State University, Northridge alumna, she has leveraged her education and industry experience to shape inCast into a powerhouse for multi-channel influencer marketing. Whether it’s high-performing brand campaigns or innovative projects like FunCast—an interactive Instagram-friendly exhibit in Brazil—Vera is always ahead of the curve, blending creativity with performance-driven strategy.
Her impact doesn’t stop with business. As a board member of Girls in Tech, Brazil, Vera is also dedicated to empowering women in technology and digital entrepreneurship.
9. Aaron Kozinets
Aaron Kozinets hunted down every opportunity and built a thriving agency from the ground up. As the founder and CEO of Influence Hunter, he’s helping brands of all sizes scale through influencer collaborations, specializing in micro and nano influencers to drive engagement and ROI.
Fresh out of the University of Southern California (USC) in 2019, Aaron wasted no time launching Influence Hunter. What started as a summer experiment quickly evolved into a data-driven agency with a search engine of over 30 million influencers, offering brands customizable, high-impact campaigns.
Beyond running Influence Hunter, Aaron is also the host of the "Hunting Influence" podcast, where he interviews entrepreneurs, influencers, and industry experts to unpack the strategies behind digital influence. His insights don’t stop there—he’s also a guest lecturer at USC's Marshall School of Business, sharing real-world expertise with the next generation of marketers.
10. Ray Levy
Ray Levy knows that influencer marketing is more than just follower counts—it’s about strategy, data, and authenticity. As the Founder and Executive Chairman of MoreInfluence, Ray has built an agency that helps brands navigate the complex world of influencer partnerships with a data-driven, ROI-focused approach.
In 2020, Ray and his partners acquired Boomopolis, a Los Angeles-based influencer agency that helped launch TikTok. They rebranded it as MoreInfluence, bringing cutting-edge analytics and an influencer-agnostic philosophy to the space. Unlike traditional agencies, MoreInfluence doesn’t manage talent, ensuring that brand partnerships are tailored for performance, not favoritism.
Ray’s mission is clear: align brands with influencers whose personal passions and values resonate with their audiences, creating campaigns that are both strategic and authentic. This philosophy has helped MoreInfluence connect brands with top-tier creators, drive engagement, and maximize campaign effectiveness.
Beyond running MoreInfluence, Ray is a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing strategist with decades of experience. His background includes sports marketing, media planning, and economic development, giving him a broad, multi-industry perspective on brand growth and audience engagement.
11. Jon Davids
Jon Davids, founder and CEO of Influicity, launched one of the first influencer marketing agencies in 2013, long before brands realized the full power of digital creators.
But Influicity isn’t just about influencers anymore. Under Jon’s leadership, the agency has evolved into a full-scale marketing powerhouse, offering services like podcast production, TikTok management, AI-driven content, LinkedIn growth, SEO, email strategy, and paid ads. The goal? Building loyal, engaged communities around brands—because a one-time viral hit is great, but long-term influence is better.
Jon doesn’t just execute strategies; he teaches them. He runs Influicity’s "Marketing That Sells" training programs, sharing the same data-backed methods he’s used to scale brands from startups to Fortune 500 giants. He’s also the host of "Making It with Jon Davids", a top-10 marketing podcast, where he breaks down business growth, brand-building, and digital influence.
And if that’s not enough, he’s also an author and keynote speaker. His book, "Marketing Superpowers," dives into how brands can attract customers effortlessly—because, let’s be honest, marketing should feel seamless, not salesy.
12. Lindsey Heppner
Lindsey Heppner, CEO of VAMPPED is crafting experiences that brands and audiences remember. As the founder and , Lindsey has turned her agency into a powerhouse of creativity, strategy, and high-profile collaborations, working with major brands like Shangri-La Hotels and Harley-Davidson.
Before launching VAMPPED, Lindsey honed her skills as a creative director and graphic designer, a background that fuels her innovative approach to influencer marketing. Her agency goes beyond traditional brand partnerships, offering campaign development, social media strategy, event curation, international influencer tours, and public relations.
What sets VAMPPED apart? Authenticity and exclusivity. Lindsey believes that brands succeed when they partner with creators who genuinely align with their message, and she carefully selects both brands and influencers to ensure the right fit. Quality over quantity—always.
Beyond running VAMPPED, Lindsey is also the founder of ReVAMPPED, a production and brand development agency pushing the boundaries of digital content.
13. Sarah Boyd & Ali Grant
Sarah Boyd and Ali Grant didn’t just merge two agencies—they created a powerhouse. As the Co-CEOs of The Digital Dept., they’ve combined the best of Be Social and Socialyte to offer influencer marketing, talent management, and brand strategy at scale.
With a roster of over 250 creators and a combined social reach exceeding 350 million, The Digital Dept. isn’t just about connecting brands with influencers—it’s about building long-term, strategic partnerships that drive real impact. From Christine Quinn of "Selling Sunset" to Danielle Pinnock of "Ghosts", they represent top-tier talent while ensuring brands find the perfect creator match.
Sarah Boyd, previously the President of Socialyte, has built her career on bridging brands and influencers through innovative campaigns and high-profile events. As a Forbes-recognized industry leader, she’s worked with Alessandra Ambrosio, Olivia Culpo, and Julianne Hough, making her a go-to expert in influencer marketing and brand partnerships.
Ali Grant, the founder of Be Social, was an early pioneer in the influencer marketing space, launching her agency in 2012 when the industry was still in its infancy. Recognized by Inc. and AdWeek, she’s led cutting-edge influencer campaigns, events, and editorial strategies, shaping how brands leverage digital creators.
With offices in LA, New York, Nashville, and Miami, The Digital Dept. is redefining what it means to be a full-service influencer marketing agency. Their BRANDEdit experiences and corporate event services further solidify their innovative, multi-channel approach.
14. Benjamin B. Kaplan
Benjamin B. Kaplan, the founder and CEO of TOP Agency, oversees a global network of nine specialized agencies operating in 20+ countries, offering everything from influencer marketing and digital strategy to PR and market research.
A Harvard-trained economist, Kaplan takes a scientific approach to marketing, using A/B testing, analytics, and rapid market research to optimize every campaign. His expertise has landed him on over 5,000 TV and radio shows, including Oprah and Good Morning America, where he’s shared insights on virality, brand storytelling, and media influence.
Kaplan’s data-first methodology has made TOP Agency a go-to partner for brands like Dr. Pepper and U.S. Bank, helping them craft high-impact, results-driven campaigns. His passion for thought leadership extends to the TOP CMO podcast, where he interviews top marketing executives on trends, strategy, and innovation.
Beyond marketing, Kaplan has built platforms like National Today, which taps into viral cultural moments to help brands engage audiences in real-time. His influence spans industries, making him one of the most forward-thinking strategists in the marketing space today.
15. Ernest Sturm
Ernest Sturm saw the future of influencer marketing before most. In 2017, he founded Runway Influence, recognizing the shift from traditional runway modeling to social media influence, where models could monetize their platforms and drive brand engagement like never before.
With a background in luxury event marketing, Sturm first launched Runway Waiters, a high-end event staffing company supplying agency-signed models for brands like Tom Ford, Louis Vuitton, and Ferrari. This gave him an insider’s edge in luxury branding, which he now leverages at Runway Influence to craft high-impact influencer campaigns.
Runway Influence stands out by strategically pairing brands with elite model influencers, reinforcing the idea that attractiveness has always been a powerful marketing tool—now amplified through social media. Under his leadership, the agency has gone global, partnering with top-tier brands worldwide.
With over 12 years in marketing, Sturm is a seasoned entrepreneur who understands both brand storytelling and audience psychology.
16. Victor Knaap
Victor Knaap stands as a prominent figure in global digital marketing as the CEO of Monks EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and Co-Founder of Media.Monks, a position he has held since November 2003. His two-decade tenure in the industry has been marked by significant achievements and strategic leadership.
In December 2018, Knaap took on an additional role as Board Member and Executive Director at S4 Capital Group, a new-age digital advertising and marketing services company established by Sir Martin Sorrell. Under his leadership, Media.Monks integrated with S4 Capital in July 2018, becoming part of a larger vision to build a purely digital advertising and marketing services business focusing on first-party data, digital content, and media planning and buying.
Knaap's influence extends beyond his corporate roles. He serves on several prestigious boards, including the Interactive Advertising Bureau Netherlands (IAB NL) and the Dutch Creative Council, where he contributes to shaping the future of digital marketing in the Netherlands. His commitment to social responsibility is evidenced by his board membership at the UN Global Compact Network Netherlands, where he provides strategic leadership in implementing the Ten Principles and Global Goals.
The success of S4 Capital Group under Knaap's leadership is reflected in its impressive market capitalization of approximately £500 million ($650 million) and its global presence across 16 countries, with approximately 1,200 employees serving global, multinational, regional, and local clients, as well as millennial-driven influencer brands.
LA’s Power Players: The CEOs Shaping the Future of Influencer Marketing
The influencer marketing landscape in Los Angeles is more than just viral moments—it’s a high-stakes industry led by visionaries who redefine brand success. These CEOs of top-tier agencies aren’t just keeping up with trends; they’re setting them.
From data-driven firms to creator-first platforms, each leader on this list has mastered the art of turning influence into ROI. As brands navigate the ever-evolving digital space, these CEOs continue to push the boundaries of storytelling, authenticity, and engagement. One thing is certain—the future of influencer marketing services is being built in LA, and these CEOs are leading the charge.
