Director, Analytics & Marketing Intelligence – Automotive

Company: VML / WPP
Location: London, UK
Working Model: Hybrid working
Reporting to: Chief Marketing Intelligence Officer

About Us

VML is a global agency that combines creativity, technology, data and culture to help some of the world’s most recognised brands grow. As part of the wider WPP network, we bring together specialist capabilities across brand experience, communications, media, commerce, technology, analytics and marketing intelligence.

This role sits within VML and is part of a highly integrated WPP client team, bringing together talent and expertise from across the network to deliver connected solutions for a major global automotive client.

You’ll work in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment, partnering with specialists across strategy, creative, media, technology, data and customer experience.

About the Opportunity

We’re looking for a Director, Analytics & Marketing Intelligence to lead analytics and marketing intelligence across a major European automotive business.

This is a senior, client-facing leadership role for someone who combines deep automotive experience with strong expertise in marketing analytics, data and consulting.

You’ll be responsible for helping clients make better, more informed marketing and business decisions through data and insight. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders across markets, bringing together local and regional perspectives, identifying opportunities for growth and shaping solutions that deliver genuine commercial value.

The role requires someone who can operate comfortably at both a strategic and commercial level — someone who can understand complex business challenges, translate data into a clear point of view, and turn that thinking into compelling propositions, new opportunities and long-term client partnerships.

What You’ll Do

Marketing Intelligence & Analytics Leadership

• Lead the development and delivery of marketing analytics and intelligence across European markets.
• Turn complex data, customer behaviour and market information into clear, actionable insights and recommendations.
• Advise senior client stakeholders on how data and analytics can support marketing effectiveness, customer growth and broader business objectives.
• Bring together different sources of data and intelligence to create a consistent, holistic view of performance across markets.
• Identify emerging trends, opportunities and challenges within the automotive sector and translate these into meaningful recommendations.
• Help shape new approaches, products and capabilities across analytics, measurement and marketing intelligence.

Client Leadership & Consulting

• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, acting as a strategic advisor rather than simply a delivery partner.
• Understand individual market challenges while maintaining a strong regional perspective.
• Lead senior-level conversations around business performance, marketing effectiveness, customer behaviour and growth opportunities.
• Communicate complex analytical thinking in a clear, compelling and commercially relevant way.
• Challenge existing thinking where appropriate and bring new perspectives, ideas and approaches to the client.

Commercial Growth & Business Development

• Identify opportunities to grow existing relationships and develop new areas of work.
• Shape propositions, scopes of work and commercial opportunities around client needs.
• Lead or support pitches, proposals and new business conversations across the European automotive landscape.
• Own commercial considerations including scoping, financial management and account profitability.
• Work closely with wider WPP and agency teams to bring the right capabilities together around client opportunities.
• Build a strong understanding of client priorities and translate these into sustainable commercial growth.

Regional & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Work closely with local market teams to create a joined-up European approach to analytics and marketing intelligence.
• Connect specialists across data, strategy, media, technology, customer experience and creative to deliver integrated solutions.
• Establish consistent standards, ways of working and best practice across markets.
• Share market intelligence and learnings across the wider organisation to strengthen capabilities and drive innovation.
• Provide leadership, direction and expertise to teams working across multiple markets and disciplines.

What We’re Looking For

• Deep experience within the automotive sector with a strong understanding of the industry, its customers, commercial challenges and marketing landscape.
• Extensive experience in marketing analytics, data, measurement and/or marketing intelligence, ideally within an agency, consultancy or client-side environment.
• Proven experience advising senior stakeholders and translating complex data into clear strategic recommendations.
• Strong commercial understanding, with experience developing new opportunities, scopes of work and client relationships.
• A track record of growing and strengthening senior client partnerships.
• Experience working across multiple markets, ideally within a European or global organisation.
• Strong consulting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to move from a business challenge to a clear analytical and strategic response.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and bringing together different capabilities to solve complex client challenges.
• A strong understanding of how data and analytics can influence marketing, customer experience and business performance.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, complex environment where priorities and client needs can evolve quickly.
• Additional European language skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you?

Aside from a generous annual leave allowance and pension allowances, you will have access to a whole host of other benefits and activities such as:

• Life Assurance
• Permanent Health Insurance
• BUPA
• Flexible hybrid-working schedule
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Well-being Programme
• Employee Assistance Support
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Eye Care and Glasses Vouchers
• Season Ticket Loans
• WPP Discounts

You will also have a clear long-term career development plan and access to our learning and development activities and online learning platforms.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, colour, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability.

We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

If you are unable or limited in your ability to access our career site as a result of a disability, we will be happy to assist you. Please contact our People Team at [email protected] to request an alternate accommodation. Please note that only requests for an employment application accommodation will be returned.