Omar Johnson is the Founder and CEO of ØPUS United, a brand development agency and collective of executives, creatives, and strategists focused on building culturally resonant brands. Drawing from his lived experience as a Black executive navigating the corporate world, Omar is a passionate advocate for racial equality. His journey has instilled in him a deep commitment to creating space for marginalised voices and promoting inclusive leadership. As a speaker, he shares insights on topics such as diversity in business – meeting people where they are, leadership through empathy, marketing with authenticity, and building global brands through culture. His sessions, shaped by personal and professional wisdom, offer powerful commentary on how business and culture intersect.
Omar began his career in marketing at Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, and Campbell Soup, gaining a solid foundation in brand development. His talent for crafting emotional narratives led him to Nike, where he helped produce memorable campaigns featuring LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, as well as develop the Nike+ sports music platform. In 2010, he became Chief Marketing Officer at Beats by Dre, playing a pivotal role in scaling the brand from a $20 million start-up to a $2 billion cultural powerhouse. After Apple’s $3 billion acquisition of Beats in 2014, Omar joined Apple as Vice President of Marketing, continuing to lead high-impact brand work.
In recent years, Omar has been recognised as one of Adweek’s Brand Geniuses and featured among Business Insider’s Most Innovative CMOs. Through ØPUS United, he’s championed projects like We The People and We Got Next, initiatives focused on civic engagement and racial equity. His work has consistently bridged the worlds of creativity, activism, and enterprise, proving that marketing can be a powerful tool for cultural and social impact.
Omar’s speaking engagements go beyond brand strategy – they centre on equity, connection, and storytelling. He dives deep into how to market with emotion, the art of listening, and how the best ideas often come from the crowd, not the data. His talk on The Beats Story is a masterclass in building a global brand grounded in authenticity and Black culture. Whether addressing corporate diversity or the evolution of influencer marketing, Omar brings a unique lens shaped by lived experience and commercial success. He is hired not just to speak, but to inspire meaningful change through his powerful blend of creativity, leadership, and cultural insight.
