Michael Lander
Creative direction · brand strategy · marketing leadership
michael.lander@me.com · linkedin
Summary
Marketing and brand leader with 25 years helping organizations turn deep expertise into commercial growth. I’ve worked across financial services, healthcare, capital markets and consumer brands, helping leadership teams simplify complex businesses, align organizations and build integrated go-to-market programs. Fractional CMO for a growing QSR franchise brand. Open to CMO, brand and creative leadership roles, and to freelance creative direction.
Experience
Strategic Brand & Marketing Advisor (Fractional CMO), Haven Hot Chicken, May 2025–present. Advise founders on brand, marketing and growth strategy as the company expands its footprint and franchise business. Result: new locations, franchise pipeline.
Executive Creative Director, o2kl, Aug 2021–Present. Lead creative, brand and marketing strategy across financial services, healthcare and enterprise clients, partnering with senior leadership. Managed teams and new business resulting in AOR’s with two large clients.
Creative Lead (contract), Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, Sep 2020–Sep 2021. Senior creative leadership across Humira, Skyrizi, Rinvoq and Mavyret.
Co-Founder & Partner, M+Y NYC, Apr 2017–Aug 2021. Co-founded and ran an independent marketing and creative consultancy for global brands and leading agencies, covering strategy, business development and senior client relationships.
Creative Director, BBDO Worldwide, 2011–2017 (full-time 2011–2014, freelance 2017). Managed Visa’s digital and social sponsorship business, including the NFL and the Summer and Winter Olympics.
Earlier: BFG, iX, Big Fuel, Havas, Ogilvy, McCann, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Young & Rubicam (New York and Paris), KB&P, The Martin Agency
Brands
Visa · American Express · Equitable · AARP · Citibank · PNC · Discover · HP · IBM · Samsung · Intel · T-Mobile · Verizon · AT&T · Nike · Timberland · Reebok · Cadillac · GMC · Toyota · Sam Adams · Dos Equis · Wild Turkey
Recognition
Effie, Cannes, Webby, Addy, Icon, Communicator and IAC Awards
Education
Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center, Atlanta
Beyond Agency Work
Took a product from patent to market: packaging, branding, manufacturing, supply chain and venture funding. Founded a small company that leases vintage cars to film and TV.
