CJ Cardenas

CJ Cardenas currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Bear Grylls Survival Academy.

Prior to joining BGSA, CJ started his career in entertainment with a 4 year stint at Bear Grylls Ventures (BGV) – the media, branding and licensing firm of the world renowned adventurer and TV personality Bear Grylls. CJ joined BGV in May of 2012 as the Head of Business Affairs where he was in charge of business strategy and deal negotiation across a wide spectrum of specialties including television (production and talent deals), endorsements, licensing, merchandising, publishing, speaking engagements and strategic joint ventures.

CJ is professionally trained in corporate finance and started his career in investment banking at Bank of America Securities (now Bank of America / Merrill Lynch) where he would spend a total of 7 years covering the technology and real estate sectors. CJ is also a successful entrepreneur having started and sold businesses in the service industry. CJ is based in Los Angeles where he relocated in 1999 to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu.