James Cannon

James Cannon serves as Senior Program Manager for Global Oral Genealogies at FamilySearch International, leading field operations, compliance, and partner coordination for the initiative across Africa, APAC, MENA, and the Americas. He manages eight regional operations managers and approximately 123 local collection contractors working in 24 countries to collect, digitize, and audit oral genealogical records. James is responsible for ensuring large‑scale collection programs operate effectively while meeting national legal requirements, respecting cultural protocols, and adhering to rigorous audit and quality standards. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, and with professional experience spanning more than 20 countries, he brings strong cross‑cultural fluency to building trusted partnerships with governments, archives, and community leaders.

Prior to joining FamilySearch, James held senior international leadership roles across sports, media, non‑profit, and faith‑based organizations, including serving as Global Director of Marketing Partnerships (Brazil) for the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he led market expansion efforts and managed complex networks of local partners and vendors. With more than 25 years of experience leading cross‑functional teams and executing complex international initiatives, he brings seasoned operational and partnership expertise to global programs operating in high‑accountability environments. James resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and four sons, and outside of work he is an avid DIYer, youth sports advocate, and community leader who enjoys mentoring young athletes and investing in initiatives that strengthen families and local communities.