Group Account Director (Tobacco)

<div class="content-intro"><h3><strong>Who We Are</strong></h3> <p>VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement &amp; Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.</p> <p><strong>About WPP</strong></p> <p>WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite&nbsp;cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel&nbsp;in a single company –&nbsp;powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open,&nbsp;to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit&nbsp;<u><a href="http://wpp.com/" data-outlook-id="2714312b-312f-4651-9f88-d8a4e47547bc">WPP.com</a></u>.</p></div><p><strong>JOB SUMMARY</strong></p> <p>Are you a seasoned agency leader ready to drive significant client success and shape our strategic direction? We are thrilled to announce <strong>three</strong> immediate openings for&nbsp;<strong>Group Account Directors</strong>&nbsp;to join our rapidly expanding team.</p> <p>The Group Account Director plays a leadership role overseeing a multi-market, dark-marketing business portfolio with strong growth ambitions across the account. Acting as second-in-command to the Business Unit Head<strong>, </strong>this role is accountable for both the strategic direction and commercial growth of the portfolio, while championing people-first leadership and operational excellence. GAD will collaborate closely with multiple internal &amp; external stakeholders to broaden and future-proof the business offering, deepen client trust, and elevate standards of work across the ecosystem.</p> <p><strong>JOB DESCRIPTION</strong></p> <p>1. Business expansion &amp; CX growth</p> <ul> <li>Shape and grow CX as a new strategic business pillar within the portfolio.</li> <li>Partner with the Business Unit Head to architect portfolio growth, expanding upstream into business design, data-driven CX strategy and expand current market opportunities.</li> <li>Develop operational &amp; commercial roadmaps that future-proof the client relationship beyond just business-as-usual tasks &amp; campaigns.</li> <li>Translate emerging signals into revenue opportunities before they become briefs.</li> </ul> <p>2. Strategic client leadership</p> <ul> <li>Serve as senior counsel to C-level and transformation stakeholders, influencing both marketing and broader enterprise strategy.</li> <li>Challenge constructively, advocate for progress, and elevate the agency into the role of trusted long-term partner.</li> <li>Navigate a dark-marketing environment with high confidentiality, low visibility and high strategic importance.</li> </ul> <p>3. Commercial &amp; operational ownership</p> <ul> <li>Oversee revenue forecasting, profitability, pricing and scope including QA &amp; QC governance.</li> <li>Continuously refine ways of working to increase clarity, flow and velocity.</li> <li>Partner with internal stakeholder leads across multiple team disciplines to strengthen operating models as the account scales.</li> <li>Pre-empt risk and maintain trust through strong stakeholder alignment.</li> </ul> <p>4. Talent &amp; team leadership</p> <ul> <li>Develop and mentor future leaders; instill EQ, strategic opinions and sharpness QA &amp; QC.</li> <li>Model “people-first” leadership that protects both growth and wellbeing.</li> <li>Create a reputation for a high-performing, respected team.</li> <li>Lead by influence, not title, taking the room without forcing it.</li> </ul> <p>5. Reputation, craft &amp; excellence</p> <ul> <li>Uphold the highest standard of craft across creative, strategic, experience and operational delivery.</li> <li>Ensure the business shows up as “best in class” in every interaction, internally and externally.</li> <li>Protect the agency’s brand and reputation through quality, integrity and composure.</li> </ul> <p><strong>WHO THIS ROLE IS FOR</strong></p> <ul> <li>A business builder, not just an account custodian. Think in terms of growth, long-term value creation and portfolio evolution.</li> <li>A natural second-in-command, confident partnering closely with the Business Unit Head and stepping in to lead the business when needed.</li> <li>A people-first leader who builds trust, capability and empathy, while upholding high performance and craft standards.</li> <li>Fluent in CX, seeing it as a revenue and relationship growth frontier.</li> <li>Comfortable operating upstream with senior clients, shaping thinking and influencing decisions before briefs are issued.</li> <li>Commercially sharp, with strong instinct for whitespace, opportunity spotting and early-stage growth conversations.</li> <li>Calm, composed and decisive in fast-moving environments. Able to bring clarity in momentum and maturity in pressure moments.</li> <li>Motivated by building a team’s legacy and reputation, not just delivering work.</li> <li>Respected for executive presence with poise. Earn the room through maturity, judgement and character.</li> </ul><div class="content-conclusion"><p><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span class="normaltextrun"><span lang="EN-GB">WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.</span></span><span class="scxw176048299"><span lang="EN-GB">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p><span class="scxw176048299"><span lang="EN-GB">VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit  <a href="https://www.vml.com/" target="_blank">www.vml.com</a>, and follow along on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/vml_global/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/vml/">LinkedIn</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/vml_global?lang=en">X</a>.</span></span></p> <p>When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vml.com/recruitment-privacy-policy">Recruitment Privacy Policy</a>. California residents should read our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vml.com/california-recruitment-privacy-notice">California Recruitment Privacy Notice</a>. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.</p></div>