Andre Edward James

Andre James passed away unexpectedly on August 29, 2025, following a stroke. Andre was healthy, active, and deeply engaged in his family and career which made his sudden passing at age 54 a shock to all who knew him.

Born in Philadelphia PA, Andre spent his childhood in La Jolla, where he became a California kid who loved the beach and ocean. He attended La Jolla High School where he played tennis, body surfed and made lifelong friends. His favorite local hang out was Windansea Beach and he occasionally cut class to "womp" in the waves at Sea Lane Beach with Eric-san, Mixxy, and Daniel-san.

Andre graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA in 1994 with a degree in Economics. After a short stint at Coopers and Lybrand, he went on to earn an MBA from the Wharton School and a JD from University of Pennsylvania's School of Law.

In 2000, Andre joined Bain & Company's Los Angeles Office where he spent 24 years. Andre loved tackling hard problems, kicking around ideas, whiteboarding, and coming up with bold solutions. He played to win, incorporated others' thoughts, and shared humor and energy while creating excellent results for clients. Andre mentored countless "Bainies," many of whom he had personally recruited in his recruiting leadership role. Andre rose to become the Global Head of Bain's Media and Entertainment practice.

In the Spring of 2024, Andre was offered the opportunity of a lifetime, and he joined the Walt Disney Company as EVP and Head of Corporate Strategy. The ability to work alongside talented executives building the future of The Walt Disney Company was Andre's dream role and he loved every minute of it.

Andre was the best father and husband, and he shared a love of the ocean with his entire family. He enjoyed watching UCLA football and the Los Angeles Chargers, and he loved throwing the black max football with his kids on the beach. Whenever he traveled, he left loving post-it notes under pillows and on mirrors so the whole family would know they were loved. As often as he could, Andre closed the night in the jacuzzi listening to stories about the kids' days. Andre's friends, family, and many colleagues could always count on him to listen and offer valuable advice. He is survived by his wife Laura, his three children, Connor, Tucker and Penny, his brother Marc, his sister Marina and his parents Hector and Chris.

A celebration of Andre's life will be held at a later date. The family asks those wishing to express sympathy to consider making a gift to an endowment fund in Andre's name at The Thacher School. The link is included below. Under donation options, please click "dedicate donation in honor or memory of someone" and include Andre's name.

https://give.thacher.org/campaigns/toads/give/step-1