Naji El-Arifi

Naji El-Arifi

Head of Innovation at VML Enterprise Solutions

London, England, United Kingdom
979 followers 500+ connections

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About

I am Head of Innovation at VML Enterprise Solutions and winner of 2 WPP Atticus Awards

Previously...

Product and Innovation Director at Nimbletank working on projects for Lloyds Bank, AWAL and Kobalt Music publishing. Included several projects for start ups helping them get started and funded.

As Product Innovation Manager at Somo, I work on creating cutting edge apps using the best technology available. As part of the Innovation team at Somo I am responsible for keeping the Somo Lab stocked with all the latest hardware and software innovations from Somo, I also do regular lab tours for many clients and C level visitors. Plus this role means working closely with the design team, product managers and Account management.

I was also lucky enough to speak at TEDx EastEnd 2015 which was a great experience and allowed me to express my feelings about coding. Talking about how I feel coding will allow us to solve our own problems and not have to rely on the solutions of others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0bZ5pMMurg
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In 2011 I received the Somo Values Award for ‘Leading with Knowledge’ for showing a keenness for learning and outstanding sharing of knowledge, both within the company and to clients. My expertise was enhanced the work I did with Samsung as a mobile blogger. In 2011 I was was named ‘Best Mobiler’ and was invited to visit their headquarters in South Korea, where they showed me up-and-coming products for 2012 and beyond.

Activity

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Experience

  • VML Graphic

    Head of Innovation

    VML

    - Present 8 months

    London, England, United Kingdom

  • Wunderman Thompson Commerce Graphic

    Head Of Innovation

    Wunderman Thompson Commerce

    - 5 years 8 months

    London, United Kingdom

    - Led innovative projects involving cutting-edge technologies like WebAR, chatbots, and Metaverse, with a focus on increasing conversion
    - Worked closely on the development, analysis and presenting back of The Future Shopper Report, the world's largest ecommerce study with 31,000 respondents in 2023.
    - Elevated thought leadership through over 50 global presentations on technology and ecommerce trends, contributing to enhanced client engagement and public speaking events.
    - Conducted…

    - Led innovative projects involving cutting-edge technologies like WebAR, chatbots, and Metaverse, with a focus on increasing conversion
    - Worked closely on the development, analysis and presenting back of The Future Shopper Report, the world's largest ecommerce study with 31,000 respondents in 2023.
    - Elevated thought leadership through over 50 global presentations on technology and ecommerce trends, contributing to enhanced client engagement and public speaking events.
    - Conducted workshops and design sprints for industry giants such as DFS, Halfords, Coca-Cola, and Lego, resulting in new projects and heightened focus.
    - Improved client retention through value-added workshops utilising analysed data from reports, enhancing overall client satisfaction and loyalty.
    - Self-learned JavaScript to develop an Alexa app for a live event, incorporating schedules and product catalogs, showcasing adaptability and problem-solving skills.
    - Actively participate in RFPs, focusing on innovative technologies to address client and prospect challenges.

  • Salmon Graphic

    Head Of Innovation

    Salmon

    - 2 years 2 months

    London, United Kingdom

  • Nimbletank Graphic

    Product & Innovation Director

    Nimbletank

    - 1 year

    London, United Kingdom

    - Managed multiple projects using Scrum methodology, leading to on-time and within-budget deliveries.
    - Led a cross-functional team to win the Chairman's prize at the Drum Awards for the AWAL app under Kobalt Music.

  • Somo Ltd

    Somo Ltd

    5 years

    • Somo Ltd Graphic

      Product Innovation Manager

      Somo Ltd

      - 3 years 3 months

      London, United Kingdom

      As Product Innovation manager my role involves several parts:
      > To look at the best technology and figure out how they can solve problems for businesses.
      > Lots of creative thought and brainstorming around creating proof of concepts that can utilize varying technology to solve problems for users
      > Managing the Somo Lab to make sure it had the best technology and then presenting that technology to all our clients mainly C-level
      > Presenting ideas and concepts to…

      As Product Innovation manager my role involves several parts:
      > To look at the best technology and figure out how they can solve problems for businesses.
      > Lots of creative thought and brainstorming around creating proof of concepts that can utilize varying technology to solve problems for users
      > Managing the Somo Lab to make sure it had the best technology and then presenting that technology to all our clients mainly C-level
      > Presenting ideas and concepts to clients and presenting at events talking about how technology will affect varying fields

      Featured:

      Hack days: how mobile agencies can jumpstart innovation ahead of the wearable tech wave
      http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/02/21/hack-days-how-mobile-agencies-can-jumpstart-innovation-ahead-wearable-tech-wave

      quoted on yahoo
      http://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-whats-next-google-glass-132951075.html

      http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2012/05/samsung-galaxy-s3-somos-technical-genius-naji-el-arifi-gets-hands-on-for-us.html

      http://www.techbubbles.co.uk/blog/is-blackberry-still-the-business-smartphone/

      I also Blog and review devices for Somo and my own youtube channel one example below is my review of the first Samsung Galaxy Note which currently has over 320,000 views

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIXOlu23XDU

    • Somo Ltd Graphic

      Technical Product Manager

      Somo Ltd

      - 9 months

      London, United Kingdom

      Technical Product Manager at Somo and resident Android expert.

      As Technical Product Manager, Naji directed the Audi UK mobile site project and scoped the capabilities of the Audi Goodwood (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvX6tn5y-Vc) and the award-winning Audi Le Mans 2011 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dSYOO-GE08) apps. Both were chosen to feature in the Apple App Store and Audi is now recognised as an innovator in the mobile automotive sector.

    • Somo Ltd Graphic

      Product Manager

      Somo Ltd

      - 1 year 1 month

      London, United Kingdom

  • Samsung Electronics Graphic

    Samsung Mobiler

    Samsung Electronics

    - 3 years 1 month

    Working in Social media reviewing, blogging and feeding back on hardware for Samsung.

    Represented the UK at Samsung HQ in Seoul, producing outstanding content and work for Samsung, including a video review with over 250,000 views on YouTube.

  • Student

    Bucks New University

    - 1 year

Education

Publications

Honors & Awards

  • WPP Atticus Award 2022

    WPP

    This was for original thinking on Space Commerce which was born out of a conversation between myself and Hugh Fletcher.

  • Atticus Award 2021

    WPP

    For work done as part of the marketing team on our largest report Future Shopper 2021

Languages

  • English

    -

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