About this New Business Director role at VML
Who We Are
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 & 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.
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.
Reporting into the Chief Growth Officer of VML UK, the successful candidate will demonstrate:
Commercial Growth & New Business Leadership
• Proven track record of delivering and exceeding new business revenue, margin and pipeline targets within a communications, consulting or agency environment.
• Significant experience developing and executing new business strategies, prospecting programmes and pursuit plans that generate measurable commercial results.
• Strong commercial acumen with a deep understanding of client business challenges, marketing transformation and the evolving communications landscape.
• Experience supporting integrated opportunities across complex organisations and multidisciplinary teams, including cross-agency and cross-network pursuits.
• Ability to identify, qualify and prioritise opportunities, balancing strategic value, commercial potential and likelihood of success.
New Business Development & Pursuit Excellence
• Proven ability to take a proactive role in prospecting, including developing target account lists, identifying routes to market, crafting pursuit strategies and driving engagement programmes.
• Significant experience managing RFIs, RFPs, credentials requests, chemistry meetings and competitive pitch processes from qualification through to outcome.
• Strong understanding of consultant-led procurement processes and agency review programmes.• Experience coordinating integrated pitch and pursuit initiatives across multiple capabilities, disciplines and partner organisations.
• Ability to maintain oversight of all live opportunities and ensure momentum, accountability and progress across the pipeline.
• Highly organised with excellent project management skills and the ability to manage multiple opportunities simultaneously without compromising quality.
Market Intelligence & Opportunity Management
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of market trends, competitive activity and emerging industry developments.
• Naturally curious and commercially minded, with the ability to identify opportunities from market signals and business change.
• Analytical and methodical in approach, using data and insight to inform decision-making and prioritisation.
• Committed to continually improving processes, ways of working and pursuit effectiveness.
Relationship Building & Influencing
• Outstanding relationship development and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to build credibility and influence with senior clients, consultants, agency leadership and WPP stakeholders.
• Strong networking, influencing and negotiation skills with the confidence to challenge constructively when required.
• Demonstrates emotional intelligence and excellent judgement when navigating complex stakeholder environments.
Marketing, Brand & Agency Profile
• Experience supporting or delivering marketing and profile- building initiatives that enhance agency visibility and supportgrowth ambitions.
• Strong understanding of brand positioning, thought leadership, events, content and PR as drivers of awareness and commercial opportunity.
• Demonstrates genuine passion for creativity, innovation and the work produced by VML.
Business Development Operations & Enablement
• Experience maintaining and continually improving a best-in- class new business infrastructure, including case studies, credentials, pitch materials and sales tools.
• Proven ability to create, organise and manage content libraries, ensuring key materials are easily accessible and consistently maintained.
• Comfortable developing credentials presentations and supporting materials for client meetings, leadership presentations and ad hoc business development activity.
• Strong experience using Salesforce (or equivalent CRM platforms) to manage pipeline data, track opportunities, support forecasting and produce management reporting.
• High attention to detail and commitment to process excellence, governance and quality standards.
Leadership & Collaboration
• An inspiring, collaborative leader with experience managing, coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Ability to motivate and mobilise cross-functional teams around growth opportunities and shared commercial goals.
• Demonstrates accountability, ownership and the ability to create momentum in fast-paced environments.
• Strong team player who builds trusted partnerships across functions, disciplines and leadership teams.Communication & Presentation Excellence
• Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Ability to distil complex information into clear, compelling and persuasive narratives.
• Experience developing and refining pitch stories, credentials presentations and client-facing communications.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing work of consistently high quality.
Personal Attributes
• Highly self-motivated, entrepreneurial and results-oriented.
• Demonstrates initiative, creative thinking and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Calm, resilient and confident under pressure.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines while maintaining quality and attention to detail.
• Organised, adaptable and comfortable operating within ambiguity.
• Energetic, curious and passionate about driving growth.
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.
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.
VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information, please visit www.vml.com, and follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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