Raymond Villares

About

⭐⭐⭐ Nearly 30 years of experience working with some of the world’s biggest and most ambitious brands! ⭐⭐⭐ BACKGROUND Senior practitioner with strong expertise in user experience strategy, UX/UI design, product design, and branding, focused on leveraging emerging technologies to create truly differentiated and meaningful customer interactions. A creator at heart, with a clear sense of purpose and urgency, honed over a 28+ year career as a successful strategist, designer, entrepreneur, leader of digital-first organizations, author, mentor, public speaker, and active community contributor.

Experience

• Head of Experience Design / Founder · VSURY10-01-2019

  Founder of a small digital product design studio focused on delivering award-winning work for mid-sized to enterprise organizations. • Serve as lead user experience researcher, UX/UI designer, and brand strategist on key accounts and initiatives. • Act as the client relationship owner and primary business strategist. • Oversee a multidisciplinary partner team of product managers, brand planners, experience designers, visual designers, and content strategists in developing innovative digital ideas and tactics.

• Chief Growth Officer · PROJEKT20208-01-2018 – 10-01-2019

  Continued in a similar role after the acquisition but moved to report to our new CEO in Dallas, Texas. Focus is to assist in driving forward a variety of organization-wide strategic growth initiatives. • Established our strategic partnership program, including Amdocs (parent company) and related sister companies. • Led new business efforts in digital transformation across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. • Planned and executed ad-hoc duties as assigned by the CEO.

• Chief Growth Officer / Interim Director of User Experience Design (ORA, later acquired) · ORA INTERACTIVE06-01-2017 – 08-01-2018

  Executive leader and interim head of design for an award-winning digital product studio, specializing in custom native iOS and Android apps, websites, and web-based applications. • Acted as interim UX design lead, delivering world-class UX/UI and overseeing the practice team and the ongoing development of its offerings. • Broadened the company’s product offering to include research, user experience, and performance management. • Improved marketing performance by building a small team and leading the brand strategy and rebranding efforts of the organization. • Partnered with business development to drive top-line revenue. • Opened a second product design studio in Denver, Colorado.

• EVP / Digital Practice / Head of Experience Design · SYMMETRI MARKETING GROUP04-01-2015 – 05-01-2017

  Brought in as an equity partner to oversee the digital services team for a U.S.-based B2B marketing agency. Notable clients included Alpolic, Capsa, Carestream, Dentsply, Focal Point, Quad Graphics, and SGK. • Served as primary user experience director, executing research, UX design, and content strategy. • Managed a team of practitioners across user experience, digital marketing, and technology. • Developed sales enablement materials and support tools, and led all sales efforts alongside the account team. • Crafted the vision, organizational model, and development plan for the agency’s offerings.

• Managing Director · HAVAS Worldwide08-01-2014 – 03-01-2015

  Executive relationship owner for one of the agency’s largest client accounts—a 100+ year-old iconic brand generating over $12MM in annual revenue. Additionally, collaborated with the North American team to establish a new agency studio, Annex, aimed at helping aging brands regain cultural relevance with younger target segments. • Established and grew a team to support all responsibilities of the digital agency of record contract, from tent-pole integrated campaigns to run-the-business tactics across retail/POS, packaging, direct mail, and digital touchpoints. • Led all new business strategies, focusing on deepening and expanding the account relationship.

• Executive Consultant · HAVAS Worldwide01-01-2014 – 06-01-2014

  Worked with North American C-level leadership to envision and implement future-state customer and agency experience strategies that drive valuable interactions with constituents and maximize sustainable performance.

• V.P. Client Partner · CRITICAL MASS03-01-2010 – 06-01-2013

  Responsible for the overall growth, direction, and delivery of services for one of the agency’s largest client accounts—USAA. Held full P&L accountability with a focus on revenue growth and strategic selling. • Led multidisciplinary teams of account managers, planners, strategists, UX/UI designers, and content strategists in developing breakthrough digital ideas and tactics. Focus areas included digital strategy for .com, mobile, social, tablet, search, and display. • Successfully defended the relationship through an RFP for Digital Agency of Record (required by USAA procurement every five years), resulting in an $18MM contract. • Senior strategist on an 8-year long-standing relationship, responsible for aligning brand, technology, and digital strategy. • Engaged heavily with C-suite client stakeholders across all departments, providing enterprise-wide perspectives, product strategies, future visioning, new segmentation approaches, channel planning, and brand positioning. • Led new business strategies to deepen and expand the account relationship.

• V.P. Digital Services / UX Practice Lead · SYMMETRI MARKETING GROUP05-01-2009 – 03-01-2010

  Brought in as an equity partner to establish market strategy, sales rollout, and UX/UI capability development for a U.S.-based B2B marketing agency’s digital services. Accountable for revenue objectives with decision-making authority over product development roadmaps, go-to-market strategies, training, vendor acquisition, and quality assurance. • Served as primary user experience director, executing research, UX design, and content strategy. • Crafted the vision, organizational model, and development plan for the agency’s offerings.

• Digital Design & Implementation: New & Emerging Offerings Director · ACQUITY GROUP01-01-2009 – 05-01-2009

  Responsible for identifying, developing, and bringing to market new service offerings, as well as extending existing lines within digital, media, and creative services. Accountable for revenue and utilization objectives, with decision-making authority over product development roadmaps, go-to-market strategies, training, vendor acquisition, and quality assurance. Areas of focus included websites and mobile apps, enterprise content management systems, and enterprise e-commerce/m-commerce. • Developed a strategic approach and vision for the New & Emerging Offerings program. • Led the first round of sales and marketing strategies. • Grew the sales pipeline for new offerings to several dozen pursuits within four months, including GM, Kohl’s, Sears, QVC, Best Buy, Playboy, Saks Fifth Avenue, Publishers Clearing House, The North Face, Eastern Mountain Sports, and Northern Trust Financial. • Built rapid-launch solutions for mobile commerce and lightweight commerce product offerings.

• Interactive Marketing Practice Director · ACQUITY GROUP06-01-2006 – 01-01-2009

  Accountable for revenue and utilization objectives, with decision-making authority over organizational development, delivery and resource management, recruiting, product development, and quality assurance. • Developed completely new service offerings in user experience design, usability validation, user interface design, channel deployment, front-end development, and measurement/analytics. • Formulated the practice vision and strategic direction, initiated growth strategies, established all sales and marketing efforts, and helped elevate the organization to a higher level of maturity. • Worked closely with the sales organization, playing a pivotal role in securing several dozen key accounts and generating over $15 million in revenue within 24 months. Notable clients included AT&T, Ben & Jerry’s, McDonald’s, Motorola, Nokia, Northern Trust, Procter & Gamble, Sears, True Value, and Yamaha.

• President / UX/UI Practice Lead · GRAVITYFREE05-01-2003 – 02-01-2006

  Assumed leadership of corporate strategy and full P&L accountability. Maintained decision-making authority in the areas of corporate strategy, product/capabilities design, process engineering, delivery, marketing, human resources, technology, and administrative affairs. Fostered beneficial relationships with regional key contacts, news publications, and organizations through community involvement, leadership, and industry recognition. • Halted a 2-year decline in sales and grew annual revenue by 75%, which—coupled with a debt reduction plan—restored a weak balance sheet to a healthy state. • Published articles, columns, and whitepapers, and delivered keynote addresses and facilitated workshops both regionally and nationally. • Awarded “Technology Company of the Year” by the Sarasota County Committee for Economic Development.

• Managing Director / Lead UX/UI Designer · GRAVITYFREE06-01-2000 – 05-01-2003

  In addition to my duties as Creative Director, I spearheaded all general operations and new product development, from concept to go-to-market strategies. I was accountable for brand strategy, market research, positioning, marketing, pricing strategies, and quality management. I also developed strategic direction and financial plans to guide the organization through difficult economic conditions during a downturn when many internet companies were failing. • Structured and implemented a sales and marketing plan that successfully built local brand recognition as a leading service producer in the region. • Led the company’s rebranding campaign, from brand strategy and logo design to execution across sales and marketing collateral and communication devices. • Increased revenue by 25% and gained market share by developing and launching the company’s first e-commerce platform—Virtual Merchandiser. • Awarded “Young Business of the Year” by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. • Selected as one of Gulf Coast Business Review’s “40 Under 40” top professionals.

• Creative Director / Lead UX/UI Designer · GRAVITYFREE02-01-1997 – 06-01-2000

  Served as head of creative services, supporting multidisciplinary offerings, directing and mentoring digital creative staff, providing creative direction on key accounts, and advancing the company’s understanding of experience and product design. Design projects included websites, intranets/extranets, kiosks, display advertising, email, and browser-based applications. • Successfully grew the startup to over $1 million in annual revenue. • Awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year” Runner-Up by Gulf Coast Business Review. • Received 25 Addy Awards at the local and state levels, including “Best in Show” in both Digital Media and Print for two consecutive years from the American Advertising Federation.

• Web Engineer · COMCAST ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS / @Home05-01-1996 – 02-01-1997

  Recruited from college for the Comcast @Home pilot team tasked with launching Comcast Online Communications. • Assisted the leadership team in formulating the product offering strategy, sales tools, and implementation plan for Comcast Online Communications. • Aided in the product introductions of the organization’s cable modem, web browser, and geo-centric web portal. • Installed the first Comcast cable modem in the country.

Education

• Florida State UniversityMathematics / Computer Science

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