Oliver Expands Investment in Solution Design Capability, Technology, Performance Marketing and Ecommerce

OLIVER – the only company in the world to exclusively design, build and run in-house agencies and ecosystems for brands – has set-out its stall for 2021.

The business, which grew 35% globally during the last 12 months, is investing further in technology, solution design, performance marketing and ecommerce in order to continue supercharging its clients’ growth. The investment includes five new A-List roles, and a fresh focus on its bolstered technology suite via the OLIVER Marketing Gateway (OMG).

The hires will take OLIVER forwards in five core categories:

Solution Design

Tim Hussain joins OLIVER as director of solution design and product strategy. Tim moves from Ebiquity where he led its digital media and technology consultancy practice. He will be responsible for designing and structuring the best possible bespoke solutions for clients based on their marketing needs and challenges. The aim is to make every client even more efficient and even more effective.

Technology

After six years in the business focused on developing OLIVER’s model and tech stack, David Russell becomes the first MD of OLIVER’s bolstered technology division. David is tasked with bridging the gap between technology and creativity, helping clients remain at the forefront of technological best practice. His burgeoning team will integrate these operations with their evolved OMG Suite. OMG is OLIVER’s proprietary technology tool used by every employee, and inside every in-house team, across the world; connecting work to clients and clients to their dedicated agencies in a closed system, managing live campaigns, distributing content and simplifying complex projects into one transparent view. 

During the pandemic, the tool was overhauled to meet new client needs. It granted clients immediate access to their global campaigns, experts and offshore capabilities no matter where they resided in the world, maximising visibility and output. This led to over 800,000 individual campaign assets being created by remote teams using the tool.

Performance Marketing

Matt Davies, joins the business as head of performance marketing. Matt, previously managing director at both Wavemaker, Carat and most recently Beamly (Coty’s in-house digital acceleration unit), will lead the OLIVER marketing effectiveness practice, building bespoke in-house performance solutions and squads for clients. His teams will combine data, media and creativity to drive higher rates of growth and market share for clients.

Ecommerce

Yves Le Breton joins the business permanently as global ecommerce client director after consulting with the Inside Ideas Group (OLIVER’s parent company) for the last 12 months. Yves, who previously held the role of global eRetail development director at Revlon, is responsible for the global growth of OLIVER’s largest clients, partnering with them to develop long-term strategies that enhance consumer experience.

Client-centric CX

Kate Taylor also joins the business as managing partner for Dare, OLIVER’s sister company and experts in experience, design and engineering. Kate comes with deep digital and CX experience having previously been client services director at Cognizant’s Zone Digital, responsible for the growth of major accounts including BMW, Coca-Cola, Aviva and Adidas. Taylor will be a conduit between the businesses, ensuring that world-leading customer experience is at the heart of every client solution.

Sharon Whale, CEO of global markets and operations said: “The pandemic magnified and accelerated the trends that already existed in the market; like digital-first experiences and like in-housing. That’s not going to slow down any time soon. It’s our job now to help them come out of the last 12 months stronger. With these new leaders and divisions, we can.

“Many brands were transformed by the pandemic, and they must continue their transformation this year to become more effective and efficient. It’s why we are investing more in these five major areas of our business, helping clients achieve their growth goals and accelerate in-house operations to the next level.”

Today, OLIVER has been ranked #1 in Adweek’s Fastest Growing List having grown 380% over the last three years across the US alone. The business, known for pioneering the in-house agency model in 2004, was also named in The Drum’s New Year Honours List 2020. According to the World Federation of Advertisers, 57% of multinationals now have in-house marketing capabilities, with a view to increase in-house operations further due to the COVID-19 pandemic.