RGN.

Razvan G. Niculae

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CMO and AI & MarTech Growth Architect with 18+ years of experience at the intersection of marketing and software engineering. Ensures brand presence across both classical search and generative engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews), and builds end-to-end SaaS products, internal tools, and martech automations as a full-stack developer (Python, Node.js, PHP, JS, Docker). Combines performance marketing (PPC, SEO, SMM, content) with backend, frontend, and AI architecture for quantifiable results in ROAS, KPI, and ROI. Over 28 professional certifications in marketing, software, and AI.

18+
Years Experience
3
Companies Led
28+
Certifications
360°
Marketing Coverage
Razvan G. Niculae

“Marketing is both science and art.”

What I Do

Expertise

Performance Marketing

Data-driven paid media across every major platform — built around KPIs, ROAS, and measurable ROI.

  • —Google Ads — Search, Display, Shopping, YouTube & Performance Max
  • —Meta Ads — Facebook & Instagram campaigns with advanced audience targeting
  • —LinkedIn Ads — B2B lead generation and account-based marketing
  • —TikTok Ads — Short-form video campaigns for awareness and conversion
  • —Retargeting — Multi-platform remarketing funnels to recover lost traffic
  • —Analytics — GA4, GTM, pixel setup, conversion tracking and attribution

SEO / SEM / SERP / SEP

Full-spectrum search visibility strategy across every engine — traditional and AI-powered.

  • —SEO — On-page, off-page, technical SEO and content strategy
  • —SEM — Paid search campaigns (Google Ads, Bing) with ROAS-focused optimisation
  • —SERP — Featured snippets, Knowledge Panels, and rich result domination
  • —SEP — Search Experience Personalisation for intent-driven audience targeting
  • —LLM SEO — Optimisation for AI search engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini)
  • —GEO — Generative Engine Optimisation for Google AI Overviews
  • —AEO — Answer Engine Optimisation for voice and zero-click search

Social Media Management

Full-cycle social media presence — from strategy and content to community and paid amplification.

  • —Content Strategy — Editorial calendars, copywriting and visual direction
  • —Community Management — Engagement, moderation and audience growth
  • —Paid Social — Boosted posts, campaign management and A/B testing
  • —Influencer & Creator — Collaboration sourcing, briefing and performance tracking
  • —Platforms — Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X (Twitter), YouTube
  • —Reporting — Monthly KPI dashboards, reach, engagement and conversion metrics

Branding & UX/UI

Brand identity development and management, visual design direction, and user experience consulting aligned with business objectives.

ATL / BTL / TTL Marketing

Omnichannel campaign planning and execution — from radio, TV and print (ATL) to direct mail and door-to-door (BTL), seamlessly integrated with digital (TTL).

CMS & E-commerce

Setup, management and optimisation of WordPress, PrestaShop, Magento and Joomla stores, including hosting on Cpanel/Vesta and Cloud environments.

Technical Arsenal

Skills & Tools

Core Competencies

Digital Marketing
Classic Marketing
ATL, BTL, TTL
Budgeting 360
Brand Development
Brand Management

Brand Management

2 skills
  • ✓Marketing Research, Strategy & Planning
  • ✓Budgeting 360

ATL, BTL, TTL

3 skills
  • ✓ATL Mass Marketing (Radio, TV, Print, Billboards)
  • ✓BTL One-2-One (Flyers, Door2Door, Email, SMS)
  • ✓TTL — ATL + BTL + Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing

8 skills
  • ✓PPC Advertising (Google, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok)
  • ✓SMM — Social Media Management & Ads
  • ✓SEO / SEM / SERP / SEP
  • ✓LLM SEO — AI Search Optimisation (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini)
  • ✓GEO — Generative Engine Optimisation (AI Overviews)
  • ✓AEO — Answer Engine Optimisation
  • ✓CMS: WordPress, PrestaShop, Magento, Joomla
  • ✓Hosting: Cpanel/Vesta & Cloud

Brand Development

1 skills
  • ✓Branding, UX & UI

1998 to 2015

12 skills
  • ✓Adobe Photoshop
  • ✓Serif Pageplus
  • ✓GIMP
  • ✓Windows
  • ✓MS Office 97 / Apache OpenOffice
  • ✓Outlook Express
  • ✓Adobe Dreamweaver
  • ✓MS-DOS
  • ✓VMware / VirtualBox
  • ✓Linux, Kali, Ubuntu
  • ✓Screamfrog
  • ✓Double Commander

2015 to 2020

9 skills
  • ✓Cpanel - MySQL, PHP
  • ✓FileZilla / WINSCP
  • ✓Adobe Illustrator / Corel Draw
  • ✓HTML, CSS, JS, PHP
  • ✓WordPress.org
  • ✓Shopify
  • ✓Joomla
  • ✓Opencart
  • ✓Magento

2020 to Present

15 skills
  • ✓Docker
  • ✓OpenCode
  • ✓Python
  • ✓Node.js
  • ✓Reach
  • ✓Notion
  • ✓Visual Studio Code
  • ✓Notepad++
  • ✓Git Bash
  • ✓DXO Lab
  • ✓Movavi
  • ✓Adobe Lightroom
  • ✓Figma
  • ✓Seo Macroscope
  • ✓BeamsUpCrawler
Career Path

Work Experience

CMO | AI & MarTech Growth Architect

Maya Interaktive

September 2012 – Present13+ years · B2B Agency
  • Growth Strategy & Omnichannel Architecture: Designing and executing comprehensive B2B/B2C omnichannel growth frameworks, integrating ATL/BTL/TTL channels with automated MarTech stacks to ensure a unified user experience.
  • AI Innovation & LLM/GEO SEO: Spearheading the agency’s transition into generative AI search, developing optimization models for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Large Language Model (LLM) visibility (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini).
  • Marketing Engineering & MarTech Infra: Architecting robust tech infrastructures, integrating custom data pipelines (Python, Node.js, PHP), scaling secure multi-platform CMS environments (WordPress, Magento, PrestaShop), and optimizing cloud/hosting architectures.
  • Performance Marketing & ROI Maximization: Overseeing multi-channel performance campaigns (Google, Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok) with a focus on data-driven attribution, hyper-targeted budget allocation, and scaling ROAS/ROI.
  • Market Intelligence & Analytics: Leading market research, competitive benchmarking, and SWOT analyses to extract actionable user behavior insights and build predictive growth models.
  • UX/UI & Brand Engineering: Directing the creative and technical alignment of brand identities, graphic design systems, and data-backed UX/UI product workflows to optimize conversion rates (CRO).
  • Digital PR & Social Media Systems: Scaling amplified PR 2.0 strategies and multi-platform organic distribution networks to compound brand equity and organic lead generation.

Marketing Manager

Valea Iazurilor

May 2010 – October 20122.5 years · Hospitality / Tourism
  • Devised strategic plans aimed at enhancing location branding and boosting popularity.
  • Created and applied growth marketing strategies tailored for both B2C and B2B sectors.

Marketing Manager

Restaurant La Bibicii

June 2008 – May 20102 years · Food & Beverage
  • Coordinated and implemented strategies for catering services, deliveries, and event organisation.
  • Developed and promoted customised offers to attract and retain customers.
  • Optimised customer experience through creative and effective marketing campaigns.

Insurance Inspector (Assistant Claims Director)

Safety Broker SRL

June 2006 – May 20082 years · Insurance
  • Managed and assisted with auto damage evaluations ensuring compliance with company policies and industry regulations.
  • Collaborated with internal teams to optimise claims assessment and resolution processes.
  • Contributed to operational efficiency and improved customer satisfaction.
Learning Journey

Education & Certifications

Academic Background

Ecological University of Bucharest

2004 – 2007

Bachelor's Degree · IEFS — Institute of Physical Education and Sports

Bachelor's Degree in Coaching, Strategy, and Sports Performance. Strategic formulation, competitive benchmarking, data-driven research methodology and high-performance leadership aligned with European excellence standards. Core Skills: Strategic Planning • Performance Analytics • Scientific Research Methodology • Leadership & Coaching.

National High School of Athletics — L.N.P.A. Câmpulung Muscel

2001 – 2003

High School Diploma · E.F.S. — Physical Education & Sports

High School Graduate – Athletics & Sports Performance Specialisation. Elite-level resilience, target-driven focus and tactical execution within Romania's unique national athletics infrastructure. Skills: Athletics • High-Pressure Execution • Goal-Oriented Discipline.

„Mircea Eliade” High School of Bucharest

1999 – 2001

High School Diploma · Informatics Specialisation

High School Diploma – Informatics Specialisation. Early-stage competencies in computer science, algorithmic thinking and structural logic — the foundation for current full-stack development and AI architecture capabilities. Skills: Information Technology • Problem Solving • Algorithmic Logic.

Certifications (28)

Business and Marketing Strategies Specialization

University of London

JONIUOXENC8T

Aug 2024Marketing Strategy

Digital Advertising Certified

HubSpot Academy

dedf6e80ff424c059af9612789c473e9

Jul 2024Digital Advertising

Digital Marketing Certified

HubSpot Academy

0A387059F1FC418D813695895359490B

Jul 2024Digital Marketing

Email Marketing Certified

HubSpot Academy

FF95A0D5049D4907A1FFFE2217353FAC

Aug 2024Email Marketing

Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

Google Digital Workshop

DTF LKP NFT

Apr 2022Digital Marketing

LinkedIn Marketing Solutions Fundamentals

LinkedIn Marketing Labs

7RZ7P7SRBPQB

Apr 2022Social Media

Search Engine Optimization Basics

Mangools

Jul 2024SEO

Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content

University of Pennsylvania

RMCB00ZOAV1E

Aug 2024Content Marketing

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization

UC Davis

P38O983ZZ68B

Aug 2024SEO

SEO with Squarespace

Coursera Project Network

17YZTRO J5QCL

Aug 2024SEO

Facebook Ads Manager

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Facebook and Instagram

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

A/B Testing

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Ad Policies for Content, Creative, and Targeting

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

How to Buy Instagram Ads

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Audience Network: Extend Your Campaign's Reach

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Messenger: Connect and Communicate With Customers

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Building Your Mobile Presence With Instagram Business Tools

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Introduction to Atlas

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Plan Reach and Frequency Campaigns with Campaign Planner

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

How Journalists Can Best Utilize Facebook and Instagram

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Creative Hub: Bring Your Ideas to Life on Mobile

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Achieving Scale with the Reach Objective

Facebook Blueprint

Jul 2017Paid Social

Sports Marketing

Northwestern University (Coursera)

S6BCDAJTAERQ

Aug 2024Marketing Strategy

Increase SEO Traffic with WordPress

Coursera Project Network

YZCHEQ1PL1XE

Aug 2024SEO

Google SEO Fundamentals

UC Davis (Coursera)

CDPO1MPZ1P33

Aug 2024SEO

Optimizing a Website for Google Search

UC Davis (Coursera)

RQ4YG6E89BKT

Aug 2024SEO

Marketing in a Digital World

University of Illinois (Coursera)

25R40WF1EEE7

Aug 2024Digital Marketing
My Philosophy

Rules for a Successful Life

Principles I live and work by — a personal framework shaped by experiences in life.

1

Family Comes First

Never forget who was by your side from the start. Make time for your family, children and friends.

  • Family
  • Friends
  • Children

Family First, work second.

2

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

"Comparison is the thief of joy." Focus on your purpose, your experience, owning your feelings, and turning your attention inward.

  • Your purpose
  • Your experience
  • Owning your feelings
  • Turning your attention inward

The only competition is staring back at you in the mirror.

3

Find Your Support System

You're a product of your environment. Surround yourself with people who are kind, honest, positive, energetic, and supportive.

  • Kind
  • Honest
  • Positive
  • Energetic
  • Supportive

Choose your friends sparingly and wisely.

4

Be Grateful for What You Have

"I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet." Be thankful for your life, your job, your health, and your family.

  • Your life
  • Your job
  • Your health
  • Your family

Be thankful for whatever you have, no matter how small.

5

Accept Your Past and Move On

Stop getting stuck in your past — learn from it to make a better future. The present is the only place you can act, live, and love.

  • Act
  • Live
  • Love

Life is short, don't waste it.

6

Invest in Yourself

Never lose your childlike curiosity. Be a life-long learner by reading books, taking online courses, learning from mentors, and experiencing new things.

  • Reading books
  • Taking online courses
  • Learning from mentors
  • Experience new things

The highest ROI comes from investing in yourself.

7

Respect Yourself

People learn how to treat you based on how you treat yourself. Take action, accept yourself, and cut out negative influences.

  • Take action
  • Accept yourself
  • Cut out negative people

You're in control of how you'll be treated.

Before Marketing

The Pitch That Built Me

Before strategy decks and campaign dashboards, there was a football pitch. From 1993 to 2005, I competed at professional level — junior academies, national youth team, and league clubs across Romania. Those years taught me everything that truly matters: discipline, reading situations before they unfold, and the irreplaceable power of a team aligned around one goal.

Sport Career · 1993 – 2005

🏆
Naționala României '84 — Youth
Jun 1998 – Sept 2001
⚽
Sportul Studențesc
Jun 1993 – Dec 1994 · Junior Academy
⚽
Dinamo '83
Dec 1994 – Dec 1996 · Junior Academy
⚽
Steaua '84
Jun 1996 – Dec 2000 · Junior Academy
⚽
F.C.M. Râmnicu Vâlcea
Dec 2000 – Dec 2001 · 2nd League RO
⚽
ARO Câmpulung Muscel
Dec 2001 – Dec 2003 · 2nd League RO
⚽
Apulum Alba Iulia
Dec 2003 – Dec 2004 · 1st League RO
⚽
F.C. Buftea
Dec 2004 – Dec 2005 · 3rd League RO
🎯
Discipline
Daily training, no shortcuts — the foundation of everything I do.
🧠
Strategic Thinking
Reading the game before it unfolds. In football and in marketing.
🤝
Teamwork
Shared goals, clear roles, collective accountability.
⚡
Adaptability
Every match is different. Every market is different. Adjust or lose.

“When the final whistle blew on my playing career, I didn't walk away from competition — I redirected it. The same drive that pushed me through training sessions and league matches became the engine behind 18+ years of building brands, running campaigns, and mastering every layer of the marketing stack.”

— Razvan G. Niculae

Besides Marketing

The Alter Ego

Football shaped the discipline. Marketing built the career. But there is a third chapter — one born from 15+ years of HoReCa experience, a deep love for Romanian gastronomy, and a filmmaker's eye for beauty. In 2020, all of it converged into one concept.

🥘

Mister Ceaunescu

Flavours of Life in Nature

A unique 4K ASMR gastro-touristic videography concept born in 2020 — archaic and contemporary food cooked in nature, across Romania's most authentic landscapes, traditions, and hidden corners.

The discipline of football, the strategic lens of marketing, and the soul of Romanian culture — all channeled into a sensory storytelling format that's pioneering a new frontier for brands: combined audio-visual stimuli as a marketing channel.

#gastronomie#turism#bushcraft#traditii#obiceiuri#mestesuguri#ASMR#4K#Romania

Three lives. One story.

⚽
1993 – 2005
The Athlete
Football. Discipline. National team. League clubs across Romania.
📊
2005 – present
The Marketer
18+ years. B2B, digital, ATL/BTL, performance, brand strategy.
🎬
2020 – present
The Creator
Mister Ceaunescu — 4K ASMR gastro-tourism, Romanian identity, sensory marketing.
🍲
HoReCa & Gastronomy
15+ years of passion for food culture, outdoor cooking, and Romanian culinary heritage.
🎥
4K ASMR Videography
A unique format blending gastronomy, nature sounds, and cinematic storytelling — all in 4K.
🇷🇴
Romanian Identity
Promoting authentic traditions, crafts, landscapes, and the untouched soul of Romania.
📡
New Marketing Frontier
Pioneering combined audio-visual stimuli for marketers — ASMR as a sensory brand channel.
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