Evan Rutchik: Creating the Future of Advertising Through Innovation and Insight

True influence in the rapidly changing sphere of digital marketing technology depends on more than just participation; it needs vision, flexibility, and a constant drive to invent. Embodying these traits, Evan Rutchik is a well-known figure in the world of advertising technology. Rutchik has always placed himself at the forefront of industry change throughout a varied twenty-year professional path that includes agency leadership, technology innovation, entrepreneurial activities, and strategic investing. His path is not just a series of roles but a story of expecting change, advocating moral values, and essentially transforming how companies engage with consumers in the digital era. Rutchik is a key force influencing the direction of marketing, guiding LocalFactor, the company he created, directing his investment fund, RIII Ventures, while also acting as President and Chief Strategy Officer at Viamedia.

Foundations of Excellence: Education and Early Vision

With a solid educational base, Evan Rutchik's journey began. Enrolling in the respected Whitman School of Management in the well-known S.I. Newhouse College of Public Communication. He pursued a double Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University in Management and Marketing. This special blend gave him a complete grasp of both the creative subtleties of marketing communication and the strategic requirements of the industry – a duality that would mark his career.

Seeing the rising complexity of the changing media scene, Rutchik refined his skills even more by obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University. His emphasis on Finance, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship gave him the analytical rigor and strategic foresight needed to negotiate and guide within the fast-paced world of digital media and technology. Evan Rutchik’s New York experience gave him the necessary tools to build the legacy that he later did.

Ascending the Ranks: Mastering Agency and Technology Landscapes

Early in his career, Rutchik managed award-winning media campaigns, thus clearly showing a talent for negotiating the complexity of the expanding digital landscape. Having senior positions on both sides of the advertisement sector—technology and agency gave him priceless experience and a unique view of the issues and possibilities in the industry.

His time as Senior Vice President of Agency Sales with Yieldbot was a major part of his rise. Here, Rutchik clearly possessed outstanding revenue-generation skills and leadership. Leading a high-performing 25-member sales team, he ultimately produced an amazing total revenue of $60 million in 2016.

Rutchik took on a fresh project in late 2016 as chief revenue officer (CRO) for the United States at Ogury. Rutchik was key in growing Ogury's presence from the New York City office; he helped Ogury set up offices in ten key US cities and establish itself as a top mobile user insights provider. His management ensured that Ogury became famous for providing timely, precise, and comprehensive information on mobile user paths.

The Entrepreneurial Vision: Launching LocalFactor Group

Deep observation of market needs and an entrepreneurial streak led Evan Rutchik to spot a fundamental void in the advertising sector: the efficient and ethical application of local data. Stepping into the role of CEO in early 2021, he established LocalFactor Group with a distinct goal: to enable companies to reach localised audiences straightforwardly and effectively on every media platform while still protecting user privacy.

LocalFactor was built on the visionary idea that merging cross-channel local content with consented user data could create a scalable, cookieless dataset that advertisers and publishers could use. This strategy offered premium inventory ads guaranteed to be brand-safe and privacy-compliant. Central to this invention was the patented LocalFactorID and later the Geo-Graph™ technology, created to target geographical micro-locations free of dependency on cookies or traditional device graphs—a prescient response to the industry's change from third-party cookies.

Strategic Synergies: Integrating and Leading at Viamedia

The success and innovative approach of LocalFactor, Evan Rutchik, did not go unnoticed. Announced in March 2025, Viamedia, the biggest independent advertising representative company for linear and digital TV in the U.S., strategically bought LocalFactor Group. This was a major confirmation of Rutchik's vision and LocalFactor's technical ability.

Most importantly, the takeover named Evan Rutchik President and Chief Strategy Officer of Viamedia. Directly reporting to CEO David Solomon and sitting on the firm's board, Rutchik was charged with directing Viamedia's general strategic vision as well as managing LocalFactor's operations, which would remain as a separate division.

A Voice of Influence: Thought Leadership and Ethical Advocacy

Outside of his executive and entrepreneurial responsibilities, Evan Rutchik has become a respected thought leader who offers valuable insights to sector debates on important matters. Sought for his insights, he is driven to regularly moderate and present on panels at international events.

Check out his interview with dotcom magazine.

Investing in Impact: RIII Ventures and Philanthropic Commitment

Evan Rutchik's drive extends beyond the confines of advertising technology into the realm of fostering innovation with a broader purpose. Founder and Managing Partner of RIII Ventures, he guides an angel investment fund with a specific goal: assisting nascent, creative technology firms that aim to enhance the human experience at both local and international levels.

Conclusion: An Enduring Legacy of Innovation

Evan Rutchik's career is a compelling testament to the power of combining strategic vision with technological prowess and an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit. He has continuously stretched the limits of digital advertising, from his basic education to his top executive positions at large companies and tech startups to his thriving entrepreneurial initiatives and important investments.

Thanks to LocalFactor, which is now a part of Viamedia under his direction, his vision in support of localized, data-driven, and privacy-conscious marketing puts him at the vanguard of the next stage of the industry.

Evan Rutchik, President and CSO of Viamedia, keeps creating ecosystems planned for the future - one in which advertising is more responsible, more aligned with true human relationships, and more effective. His journey provides a roadmap for navigating and influencing the digital terrain, thereby marking him as a pioneer, director, and powerful voice in the fields of marketing and beyond.