Digital Experience Strategist | Toronto, Canada
About Umar Ghumman
Umar Ghumman is a digital experience strategist based in Toronto, Canada. His work spans website strategy, digital experience, brand strategy, content strategy, customer journeys, information architecture, UX direction, and conversion strategy.
He has held senior digital strategy roles at VML (WPP), Publicis, and Stagwell, working with CMOs, marketing leaders, and organizations across Canada and the United States. His experience includes more than 40+ enterprise websites and work across consumer packaged goods, automotive, technology, retail, financial services, healthcare, public sector, nonprofit, and gaming.
His work focuses on the relationship between business strategy and digital experience, including how organizations can turn websites into growth engines. He also writes and speaks about AI, digital strategy, customer experience (CX), brand building, and how technology is changing the way organizations reach and serve customers.
Areas of Expertise
Website and Digital Experience Strategy
Website Redesign
Ecommerce and Conversion Strategy
Content Strategy and Information Architecture
Customer Journeys and CRM
Positioning and Messaging
Research and Insights
AI and the Future of Digital Experience
GTM Strategy
Selected Experience
Umar’s experience spans organizations and brands across Canada and the United States, including:
Consumer Packaged Goods: Coca-Cola, Häagen-Dazs, Kit Kat, Danone, Red Bull, Kruger Products
Automotive: Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Mazda
Technology: Microsoft, LG, Rogers
Retail: The Home Depot, Adidas, Shell
Financial Services: TD, PayPal, Capital One
Healthcare: The Ottawa Hospital
Public and Nonprofit: UNICEF, City of Toronto, Canada Post
Gaming: Ubisoft
Writing and Commentary
Umar writes about digital strategy, brand building, customer experience, artificial intelligence, websites, and changes in the digital economy.
His writing has been published by WARC and Campaign Magazine, and his work on customer experience has appeared in the APG Canada book Eat Your Beets. His published work includes writing on brand building in the age of AI, the commercial consequences of a deteriorating internet, brand-centred versus human-centred design, and customer experience strategy.
His work and commentary have also been featured in Forbes, The Globe and Mail, The Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company.
Selected Writing
A New Operating System for Brand Building in the Age of AI
WARC
The Internet Isn’t Just Degrading, It’s Hurting Business. Here’s How Marketers Can Fix It
WARC
Human-Centred Design Brings Homogeneity. It’s Time for Brand-Centred Design
Campaign Magazine
How to Create a Winning Customer Experience (CX)
APG Canada, Eat Your Beets
View all articles by Umar Ghumman
Recognition
Umar’s work has received more than 50+ industry awards and has been recognized by organizations including the Webby Awards and the Canadian Marketing Association.
He has served as a jury member for the Effie Awards, Canadian Marketing Association Awards, and Strategy Awards.
Speaking and Teaching
Umar has spoken at conferences, universities, and company events on digital strategy, artificial intelligence, and customer experience. Selected appearances include Collision Conference, Ad Club of Toronto, University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, TD Bank, and Toronto Metropolitan University.
He has taught strategy and experience design at Miami Ad School and has guest lectured at Humber College, Seneca Polytechnic, and the Rotman School of Management. He has also designed courses for the Interactive Advertising Bureau and serves on Humber College’s Advertising Program Advisory Committee.
Umar holds an MBA in Marketing and has completed executive education in strategy, design, and foresight through the Rotman School of Management and the University of Houston.
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