{"id":"haider-rafique","title":"Haider Rafique","content":"**Haider Rafique** is a global marketing executive in the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) industry who currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at the digital asset exchange [OKX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/okx). He is known for leading major rebranding initiatives and forging high-profile sports and entertainment partnerships to increase mainstream adoption and improve the public perception of the crypto sector. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-ycpru3Bt2k) [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-KN2v7K6kIM)\n\n## Education\n\nHaider Rafique studied marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and attended the Chief Marketing Officer Workshop at Columbia Business School. He also completed the Growth Series program at Reforge. Earlier in his academic career, he studied advertising at West Virginia University and sound engineering at the American University in Dubai.  [\\[8\\]](#cite-id-T8TKfCnFbT)\n\n## Career\n\nHaider Rafique began his career in advertising, holding positions at agencies including BBDO Worldwide, Young & Rubicam, McCann Worldgroup, and J. Walter Thompson, before moving into technology marketing roles at Microsoft and CA Technologies. This background provided him with experience in both brand communications and technology strategy.\n\nRafique later transitioned into the digital asset sector, initially serving as Head of Growth at Blockchain.com. He then became Chief Marketing Officer at [Okcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/okcoin), where he oversaw a rebrand in 2021 and contributed to significant user growth. In 2022, he joined [OKX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/okx) as a special advisor to the executive team, where he led the company’s rebrand from “OKEx” to “[OKX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/okx)” and helped establish a sponsorship with Manchester City F.C. He was formally appointed Global Chief Marketing Officer in December 2022 and, in 2025, also took on the role of Global Managing Partner for Government and Investor Relations. Alongside his corporate roles, Rafique has advised several Web3 startups on growth and branding strategies. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-ycpru3Bt2k) [\\[8\\]](#cite-id-T8TKfCnFbT)\n\n### Strategic Partnerships\n\n* **Manchester City F.C.:** As a special advisor and later as CMO, Rafique has been a key figure in establishing and developing the partnership with the Premier League football club. The collaboration has included campaigns such as \"A New Alternative: Manchester City,\" aimed at engaging the club's global fanbase. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-ycpru3Bt2k)\n* **McLaren Formula 1 Team:** [OKX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/okx) formed a major partnership with the McLaren F1 team, which has involved prominent branding on the team's cars and the development of special livery designs for key races. This partnership aligns the [OKX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/okx) brand with the high-tech, global appeal of Formula 1 racing.\n* **Tribeca Festival:** Rafique also spearheaded a collaboration with the Tribeca Festival, positioning [OKX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/okx) within the world of film and creative arts. This partnership reflects a strategy of reaching new audiences beyond the traditional finance and tech sectors. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-w7Dqi7ULcR)\n\n## Public Appearances\n\nRafique is a featured speaker at industry events, where he discusses marketing, brand strategy, and the future of [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3). He was listed as a speaker for the LEAP 2025 conference, a major technology event. He also engages with media to discuss his work and the broader crypto industry. In an interview with *The Drum* published on March 11, 2025, he elaborated on his strategy for challenging the negative stereotypes associated with [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency). [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-843KzXX6t6) [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-nCx17pNQp7)","summary":"Haider Rafique is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at crypto exchange OKX. He is known for leading major rebranding initiatives at both OKX and Okcoin, and for spearheading high-profile sports and entertainment partnerships to build brand awareness.","images":[{"id":"QmNZkjvBe3HFgWZuM8tTLhwQcGbqhkSKdsQLySHmHbuPK9","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"people"}],"tags":[{"id":"PeopleInDeFi"},{"id":"Organizations"},{"id":"Speakers"},{"id":"Entertainment"}],"media":[],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"ycpru3Bt2k\",\"url\":\"https://www.okx.com/learn/okx-new-cmo-haider-rafique\",\"description\":\"OKX announces Haider Rafique as CMO\",\"timestamp\":1758945880105},{\"id\":\"KN2v7K6kIM\",\"url\":\"https://blockworks.co/speaker/haider-rafique\",\"description\":\"Haider Rafique speaker profile\",\"timestamp\":1758945880105},{\"id\":\"843KzXX6t6\",\"url\":\"https://littlegreycells.club/okx-cmo-haider-rafique-on-challenging-the-image-of-crypto-as-the-wild-wild-west/\",\"description\":\"Article on Rafique's marketing philosophy\",\"timestamp\":1758945880105},{\"id\":\"w7Dqi7ULcR\",\"url\":\"https://www.campaignlive.com/article/campaign-chemistry-okxs-haider-rafique/1929555\",\"description\":\"Campaign Chemistry podcast with Haider Rafique\",\"timestamp\":1758945880105},{\"id\":\"nCx17pNQp7\",\"url\":\"https://onegiantleap.com/speakers/haider-rafique\",\"description\":\"LEAP 2025 speaker profile\",\"timestamp\":1758945880105},{\"id\":\"event-appointed-cmo-of-okx-link\",\"description\":\"Event link\",\"url\":\"https://www.okx.com/learn/okx-new-cmo-haider-rafique\",\"timestamp\":1758945880620},{\"id\":\"event-featured-speaker-at-leap-2025-link\",\"description\":\"Event link\",\"url\":\"https://onegiantleap.com/speakers/haider-rafique\",\"timestamp\":1758945880620},{\"id\":\"T8TKfCnFbT\",\"description\":\"LinkedIn: Haider Rafique\",\"timestamp\":1758949257045,\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/haider-rafique/\"}]"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://twitter.com/HaiderRafique"},{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/haiderrafique/"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"\"https://ipfs.everipedia.org/ipfs/QmVNZRLcqRSQiWs52YQvQvVuUvNRmVVfoFNqqkWJz8v7Tg\""},{"id":"commit-message","value":"\"Docs: Add education, expand career, and streamline Haider Rafique bio\""},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmVNZRLcqRSQiWs52YQvQvVuUvNRmVVfoFNqqkWJz8v7Tg"}],"events":[{"id":"cbfaf1fe-1369-4a5c-a7d2-c9a911f12a81","date":"2021-01","title":"Led Okcoin Rebrand as CMO","type":"DEFAULT","description":"As CMO of Okcoin, he led a major rebranding in 2021. This initiative contributed to a 20x year-on-year growth in retail user sign-ups and the onboarding of over one million new customers.","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"continent":null,"country":null},{"id":"bddb497c-471f-4cb6-8cbc-451ef4f53966","date":"2022-01","title":"Advised OKX on Rebrand","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Serving as a special advisor in early 2022, Rafique was the creative mind behind the company's strategic rebrand from 'OKEx' to 'OKX' and drove the partnership with Manchester City F.C.","link":null,"multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"continent":null,"country":null},{"id":"1522ff51-d559-4ade-a6d0-9363d9bcdbea","date":"2022-12","title":"Appointed CMO of OKX","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Haider Rafique was officially appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer of OKX, overseeing the company's global brand and marketing strategy.","link":"https://www.okx.com/learn/okx-new-cmo-haider-rafique","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"continent":null,"country":null},{"id":"40a76414-fd14-4742-8f75-14f4e37fa496","date":"2025-02","title":"Featured Speaker at LEAP 2025","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Listed as a featured speaker for the LEAP 2025 conference, representing OKX as its Chief Marketing Officer.","link":"https://onegiantleap.com/speakers/haider-rafique","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null,"continent":null,"country":null}],"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"operator":{"id":"0x4a2bC97afBF41a2Cbf4b4628F63420682Ff4CF2a"},"language":"en","version":1,"linkedWikis":{"blockchains":[],"founders":[],"speakers":[]}}