Umar Ghumman

Modern Marketing Strategist

I am an award-winning marketing strategist and consultant with more than 15 years of experience helping design winning futures for businesses. I make them strategically driven, creatively led, humanity obsessed, and technology enabled, so they can grow.

I combine my client and agency side experience to collaborate with CEOs, CMOs and experience leaders on marketing strategy, experience design and advertising to create connected and data fuelled experiences. I have a unique approach called Brand-Centred Design™ that helps companies win in their categories. I have collaborated with start-ups, B2B and B2C brands like Coca-Cola, Adidas, Ten Thousand Coffees, Mercedes-Benz, UNICEF, Nestle and others, helping them create new futures and grow. Some of the work has been shortlisted and awarded at shows like the Webbys, Marketing Awards, Cannes Lions, CMAs, W3, and featured in publications like WSJ, Forbes, Washington Post, TechCrunch and The Globe and Mail.


Some of professional roles include being Chief Experience Officer at VML Canada, the world’s biggest creative company. I have also spent time with Wunderman Thompson and digital agency Mirum, and Publicis as a strategist. I also partnered with Ten Thousand Coffees, a digital platform that drives connectivity as a product lead and honed 1:1 and digital-first strategies at Henderson Bas Kohn, one of Canada’s first and most awarded digital agency. I started my career journey at fashion retailer SSENSE and luxury brand Rudsak. These client and agency side experiences have helped me advise on winning strategies.

I’m a trained marketer, futurist and policy maker with an MBA in Marketing, an undergraduate in Economics, and certificates in digital, e-commerce, design and foresight form Rotman School, University of Toronto and University of Houston.

Brand Experience

CPG: Coca-Cola | Fanta | glaceau vitaminwater | Doritos | McCormick | Fanta | Haagen-Dazs | Kit Kat | Smarties | Skinny Cow | Stouffers Bistro | Ritz | Triscuit | Advil | Coppertone | Danone | Activia | Redbull | Kruger Products (Cashmere, Purex, Scotties, Bonterra, Sponge Towels)

Government and Crown Corporation: City of Toronto | Canada Post (Parcels, Direct Mail, Consumer Products) | OLG

Technology, Mobility, Services, SAAS: LG | Samsung | Rogers | Sonos | Getty Images | The Weather Network | Ten Thousand Coffees | Microsoft

Financial services: TD | BMO | Ally Bank | MD Financial | PayPal | Capital One | HSBC | Picton Mahoney | Vexxit | Lussier Insurance

Non Profit and Advocacy: UNICEF | FAST | Moorelands | Dairy Farmers of Canada | Canadian Health Food Association

Apparel, Fashion and Beauty: Ssense | Rudsak | ALDO | Tommy Hilfiger | Adidas | KAO (Biore, Jergens, John Frieda)

Automotive: Mercedes-Benz | Yamaha Motors | Volkswagen | Mazda

Retail & QSR: The Home Depot | Tim Hortons | McCafe

Travel: WestJet | Porter | Tourism Australia

Gaming: Ubisoft | Nintendo | Xbox

Equipment: Metso | InMode | Jabil

Energy: Shell | ConEdison

Health: The Ottawa Hospital

What People Are Saying

 

“One of the smartest strategists I've met. Thank you for being involved with the school!”

— Aman, Founder, Miami Ad School

“Umar is a true strategist - perfect equation of business and creative implementation”

— Jennifer, VP of Content, Sid Lee

Let’s work together