Omar Johnson’s journey from pre-med student to marketing maestro is nothing short of extraordinary. Initially a science enthusiast, Johnson discovered his true passion for marketing and began his career amplifying international brands at Coca-Cola’s headquarters in Atlanta. His expertise quickly led him to notable roles at Kraft Foods (Chips Ahoy) and Campbell’s Soup (Pace Salsa) before joining Nike. At Nike, he rose through the ranks to produce iconic TV commercials, including Rise with LeBron James, All Together Now featuring Kobe Bryant, and The Most Valuable Puppets.
In 2010, Johnson became the third employee at Beats by Dr. Dre, stepping into the role of Chief Marketing Officer. Under his leadership, Beats transformed from a fledgling company into a cultural phenomenon. Johnson’s innovative B2H (Business to Human) marketing strategy propelled sales from $20 million to $2 billion, making Beats the top global headphones brand before its $3 billion acquisition by Apple. Johnson drove explosive growth in the headphone category through groundbreaking campaigns including #ShowYourColor Solo Campaign, Powerbeats starring LeBron James and The Pills featuring Chris Rock and Eminem. He used “ambush marketing” and influencers to expand the brand—giving athletes and musicians free headphones at private company parties—which helped turn Beats into the headphone of choice for the best musicians and athletes in the world.
Notable achievements during his tenure include a viral Olympics experience where athletes received Beats headphones customized with their country’s flag, boosting international sales by 600%. Additionally, Johnson spearheaded the “Straight Outta Somewhere” meme generator for Dr. Dre’s 2015 biopic, Straight Outta Compton, creating one of the most successful social media phenomena ever.
Following the Beats acquisition, Johnson transitioned to Apple as Vice President of Marketing and later founded ØPUS United, a Beverly Hills-based brand management firm. As a leading Black Thought Leader (Blacklist 100), Johnson leads ØPUS United’s diverse team of award-winning executives, athletes, strategists, data scientists, and musicians. The firm employs a unique “Culture-Centric Design” methodology to drive world-class brands and revenue through insights from popular culture.
At ØPUS, Johnson champions initiatives like We the People and We Got Next, focusing on racial equity and empowering younger generations. He also serves on the boards of Qualtrics and Theragun. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Johnson holds a BS in Biology and Chemistry from Georgia State University and an MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University.
