R/GA hires Michael Olaye as managing director of experience community

R/GA, a New York-based digital marketing consultancy, has welcomed veteran technologist Michael Olaye as VP and managing director of experience community. He will be based in New York.

In his new role, Olaye will oversee a team of data, strategy, design, and technology experts that help clients build experiences and solve business challenges. He will work closely with Ben Williams, global chief experience officer at R/GA, and Erin Lynch, executive creative director.

Olaye brings more than 20 years of experience in the technology, marketing, and advertising industries, with expertise leading digital and operational strategy, technical direction, and business development.

He joins R/GA from Scandinavian ad agency network The North Alliance, where he served as chief growth officer for the last two years. His notable achievements at the network included winning the Mojang and Minecraft global rebranding and position brief and winning a pencil at this year’s D&AD awards.

Before that, Olaye was CEO of ad agency Dare, where he was responsible for repositioning the agency as an experience-driven digital company. He was also previously group chief technology officer at Oliver Agency and head of technology & innovation at Havas London. Between 2001 and 2010 Olaye worked at digital creative agency U-Dox, where he was a founding member and head of digital, and served clients including Adidas, Nickelodeon, and EMI.

Earlier in his career, Olaye worked as a software engineer and flash animator. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from London Metropolitan University.

“R/GA has always been well known to me over the decades,” Olaye said. “It's one of the great powerhouses in the advertising industry, known for innovation, design, and technology in its solutions. I also have experience working with the CEO in a previous life, and after hearing his vision of the next evolution of the company's journey, I jumped at the chance to be a part of that.”

R/GA provides services in growth strategy and new business models, brand strategy and design, digital experiences and digital products, and creative campaigns. The Interpublic-owned firm has more than 2,000 employees globally.