Welcome to Ana Maria Olaru
We’re excited to announce Ana Maria Olaru has joined SmartCo as Managing Consultant. Wishing you a warm welcome from the entire SmartCo team.
We sat down with Ana Maria to ask her a few questions about her career path, her new role at SmartCo and what she’s most looking forward to about joining.
Hi Ana Maria. What has been your career leading up to SmartCo?
I’ve spent the last ten years across both consulting and industry in luxury and CPR, specialising in business transformation. I’ve led big programmes and supported global brands on digital and data initiatives, usually in roles that sit where strategy, operations, and technology need to line up. My focus has always been on making change clearer, more practical, and easier for teams to deliver day to day.
What is your new role and key responsibilities?
I have joined SmartCo as a Managing Consultant, leading client work in CPR as well as working alongside the Business Development team to support them with growing across Consumer Products and Retail. SmartCo is on a big growth journey, so my role is a mix of guiding delivery, building strong client relationships, and helping shape where we go next as a team and company.
What excites you most about this new chapter in your career?
What excites me most is the people and the culture. SmartCo is collaborative, straightforward, and refreshingly free of ego or jargon, just teams focused on doing good work together. It also feels like a place where you can bring your whole self, which is when I do my best work. Being part of a growing business on an exciting journey is also a major plus, and that mix is what drew me in.
What makes SmartCo stand out?
SmartCo stands out for its clarity and pace. The team focuses on what genuinely matters for clients and keeps things moving without unnecessary complexity. There’s a sense of energy and purpose in the work that feels inspiring rather than overwhelming, and that combination of focus and momentum is something I really value.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Outside of work, I love travelling, discovering great food, and finding any excuse to end up at a festival. I’m a committed Liverpool supporter (emotionally exhausting), a Dallas Cowboys fan (also emotionally exhausting), and I follow Ferrari and Hamilton in F1 which, unsurprisingly these days, is also emotionally exhausting. Safe to say I’m a big fan of chaos. When I’m not doing any of that and trying to somehow find peace, I’m usually with my dog, deep into a TV binge or helping my partner on his golf journey!