Business Director - Media Planning

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. 

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

Role Summary & Impact As the Business Director, you are the ultimate custodian of client growth, agency profitability, and team excellence for our high-profile portfolio. Reporting directly to the Client Lead, you will champion high-level strategic transformation, steer substantial consumer goods business, and lead a multi-functional team of planners and buyers. This is a high-visibility, executive-level role designed for an ambitious leader who is ready to influence C-suite marketing clients, architect innovative commercial models, and directly shape the agency’s market footprint. Core Responsibilities Key Deliverables & Portfolio Growth

• Operational Mastery: Audit and master your client portfolio immediately, ensuring fast-paced, day-to-day client servicing needs are met with elite precision.
• Commercial Growth: Develop, scale, and diversify accounts, translating organic opportunities into highly profitable business streams.
• Business Expansion: Participate in winning new business pitches and successfully sell in and close major out-of-scope projects to expand the agency's revenue profile.

Client Leadership & Management

• Trusted Advisor: Foster ironclad relationships with senior marketing clients, positioning yourself as a primary business advisor and working alongside the Managing Director (MD) on high-level engagements.
• Strategic Excellence: Infuse emerging media, retail media, and market trends into innovative, business-shaping communications strategies, ensuring all deliverables meet elite agency standards.
• Integrated Solutions: Build strong collaborative bridges with internal specialist units (SUs) and external partners to deliver unified, highly integrated solutions across consumer touchpoints.
• Commercial Oversight: Head high-stakes contract negotiations, competitive market reviews, cost-savings exercises, and formal client appraisals of the agency.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Inspire & Guide: Lead, motivate, and set a high cultural benchmark for your direct reports (Managers, Planners, Senior Buyers) to effectively deliver on client needs and company goals.
• Capability Elevation: Actively coach and mentor your team, visibly leveling up their macro-strategic thinking, digital fluency, data maturity, and content-led knowledge.
• Talent Development: Manage timely team performance appraisals, establish clear development paths, and identify critical training opportunities.
• Resource Management: Support the MD in team recruitment, retention, building business cases for headcount expansion, and closing the loop on HR/admin requirements.

💼 Business & Commercial Strategy

• Financial Health: Partner with leadership to manage key client revenue and portfolio profitability against team costs (including strict QRF & BUD planning and implementation).
• Revenue Diversification: Lead Client DNA planning to map out growth strategies, successfully diversifying portfolio revenue and increasing the profitability of the business unit.
• Growth & Reputation: Spearhead new business development by leading or supporting high-impact pitches, while boosting the agency’s visibility through award entries and market publicity.

Skills & Experience You Bring

• Property Industry Expertise: Must possess a strong, demonstrable background in the Property sector, acting as the senior point of contact on major consumer brands.
• Proven Leadership Track Record: 8+ years of experience managing high-profile accounts, with a core focus on media planning and advanced communication tactics.
• Digital Mastery: Sound knowledge of the modern digital landscape (including digital display, branding, direct response, SEM, video, mobile, and retail media), with the ability to confidently consult enterprise clients on complex digital planning.
• Strategic Thinker: Full mastery of the entire research, planning, and implementation process, rooted in strong advertising principles and numeric data interpretation.
• Commercial Acumen: A sharp, business-oriented understanding of trading dynamics, media pricing models, and how they impact FMCG media strategies.
• Project Leadership: Exceptional organizational skills to seamlessly balance multiple complex projects, set strict priorities, and thrive under high-stakes deadlines.
• Relationship Builder: Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills, with a natural ability to build rapport with internal divisions, clients, and media owners.
• Tech Savvy: Complete expertise in all relevant media industry software, tools, and systems

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