
Mark Ollila
EvoNexus Irvine Committee
Former Nokia/Microsoft Exec., Board Member, Blind Squirrel Games
Mark Ollila (@markollila) is a seasoned executive in total product offerings combining hardware, software, services and experiences with over 15 years of experience in the wireless, games, services, consumer devices industry. Mark has directed Nokia Games publishing with Studios in Vancouver, San Francisco and Espoo, resulting in several award winning titles in the area of 3D and interaction/gameplay. He also produced from the Nokia side the digital emmy nominated, award winning cross media production, Conspiracy for Good which showcased new technologies and platforms in mobile.
Mark focuses on how concepting, innovation pipelines and longterm roadmaps can be used to ensure value is delivered to the end consumer, and as result business and brand impact to the company. He has a long history with launches of new media technology platforms (Appstores and Publishing) with associated 1st party and 3rd party content with strong social and connected gaming presence. He has directed global teams and launched strategic projects pushing KPI metrics in downloads, revenue, engagement, mindshare on both services and hardware side. Involved in various deals (from advisory to leading) in both partnerships and acquisition targets, most prominent was part of the Nokia deal team in the Microsoft and Nokia strategic partnership announced in February 2011.
Mr. Ollila is a seasoned executive in areas of total product offerings combining hardware (handset, tablets, smart phones, wearables, IoT, mobile devices), software (mobile games), services (games platforms, video and photo sharing) and experiences. Mark is focused on innovation pipelines and longterm technology roadmaps and how to ensure it reaches the end consumer. He is a media Technology visionary with wide range of experience in general management and leadership revolving around commercialization of research results in Media Technology and Entertainment industries, creating new IPR, business models, brand management, testing, localisation, and product marketing and development. He’s launched global Media Technology platforms with associated content with a strong social and connected gaming presence. Mark has published mobile games (internal IPR or licensed IPR), cross platform, cross media content and has launched new product categories such as tablets.
He’s interested in investing and in the management of companies in early phase or requiring strategic change to be profitable. Mark works with Venture Capital as an Entrepreneur in Residence and as a General Partner, advisory board or board positions.
At large corporates, Mark is interested in driving innovation and new technologies and experiences through product management to provide differentiation and clear profitability. He is able to lead cross functional teams in R&D, engineering, marketing, business development as a business line/unit.
Mark’s current interest lies in wearable technologies, sensors, mobile platforms, services, big data and new entertainment formats. A big fan to technology to further impact consumer life Mark is a big follower of biotech and related areas. Mark has a Phd in Computer Science and an EMBA from London Business School.
Specialties: Portfolio planning and product management. Telecommunications. Video games and entertainment. Mobile games. Software engineering, Publishing processes. Innovation processes, Transmedia, Strategy, and building up research labs in media technology and mobile entertainment. Long-term technology planning and execution. Tablets, smartphones, accessories, wearables, technology strategy, technology licensing, product planning, product roadmap, product requirements, product definition, mobile products, Internet of Things, Big Data.