Global Managing Director

WPP Production • New York, NY

6d • $125,000 - $295,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Managing Director is a senior leadership role responsible for owning and elevating one of WPP Production's most strategically important client relationships. You are the most senior day-to-day presence on the account - the person the client trusts, the team looks to for direction, and the business relies on to drive growth.
This is a role that demands both vision and versatility. You will set the strategic direction of the account while remaining close enough to the work to spot challenges, unlock opportunities, and ensure flawless delivery. You will work in close partnership with Project Management, and lead a blended team of onshore and offshore talent to deliver world-class content production solutions.
The account you will be stepping into is one of the most exciting and high-profile in our portfolio-a large-scale, fast-moving global technology and platform leader that operates at the forefront of digital innovation. Experience working with or within this type of organization will be a significant advantage, as the pace, complexity, and ambition of this partnership requires someone who understands how these businesses think and what they demand from their agency partners.
This is also a high-growth opportunity. As WPP Production continues to expand its footprint within this account, this person will have the chance to shape the future of the relationship and grow their own career alongside it.

Requirements

• 15+ years in account management, client services, or a senior client-facing role within a content production agency or advertising environment
• Proven track record managing large, complex, multi-stakeholder clients across multiple markets, with experience working with or within large global technology, platform, or digital-first organizations strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success leading transformation programmes or strategic initiatives in a marketing or content production context
• Experience overseeing and mentoring account team members and working closely with project management teams across onshore and offshore geographies
• Strong financial acumen with hands-on experience managing account P&L, budgeting, and forecasting
• Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to engage and influence at all levels including C-Suite
• Strategic mindset balanced with a bias for action- you think big but execute with precision
• Passion for and working knowledge of AI, agentic workflows, and generative AI as applied to marketing and content production
• Proactive, solutions-focused, and comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast-moving environments
• High emotional intelligence, strong collaborative instincts, and a genuine passion for developing talent and building high-performing teams

Responsibilities

• Client Leadership & Relationship Management
• Serve as the primary senior point of contact across the client business, building trusted relationships across all levels-from day-to-day collaborators to C-Suite stakeholders- spanning key client teams including AI innovation and enablement, Marketing Operations, core media, Senior Marketing Leads, and Global Procurement
• Proactively identify and nurture opportunities to organically grow and deepen the partnership, building trust and demonstrating consistent value that naturally leads to expanded scope, new workstreams, and a stronger long-term relationship
• Develop a deep understanding of the client's business objectives and translate these into actionable content and production strategies
• Lead and represent WPP Production at meetings, contributing to senior-level strategic conversations that reinforce the value and depth of the partnership
• Host monthly innovation sessions with senior client leads, ensuring WPP Production remains a forward-thinking and proactive partner
• Deliver senior client capability showcases on an ongoing basis, communicating WPP Production's evolving offering in a compelling and relevant way
• Manage pitch and RFP responses, working cross-functionally to develop competitive, tailored proposals that reflect client needs and WPP Production's strengths
• Develop a clear and compelling narrative of WPP Production's value and differentiation specific to the client's business needs
• AI & Innovation
• Champion the use of AI tools and agentic workflows within the account, identifying opportunities to drive efficiency and deliver measurable value
• Stay ahead of emerging trends in AI, machine learning, and content automation, bringing informed recommendations to both the client and internal teams
• Collaborate with WPP Production's technology and production teams to implement AI-driven solutions that meet the client's evolving needs
• Provide oversight of innovation across three regions (EMEA, NA, APAC), ensuring they are appropriately resourced and prioritised to drive meaningful outcomes
• Translate complex AI and technology concepts into clear, accessible language for stakeholders at all levels
• Strategy & Transformation
• Act as a strategic thought partner to the client, consulting on how to optimize marketing operations and content delivery for greater efficiency and impact
• Lead discovery sessions to uncover business challenges and co-develop tailored solutions with internal and external subject matter experts
• Drive transformation initiatives end-to-end, from strategy through to implementation-ensuring clear change management and stakeholder alignment throughout
• Share industry knowledge and best practices to continuously elevate the partnership and WPP Production's profile as a forward-thinking agency partner
• Identify and unlock key growth areas within the account, designing scalable solutions that support the broader client Growth programme across WPP
• Internal Stakeholder & Team Leadership
• Serve as a senior member contributing to the overall strategic direction of the account at a global level
• Act as the key point of contact for senior WPP Media Leads and senior creative leads across agency partners, ensuring strong alignment and collaboration across the network
• Directly oversee and mentor an Account Director, providing guidance, support, and development opportunities to ensure strong account performance
• Lead and inspire a blended team of onshore and offshore talent, fostering a high-performance culture built on collaboration and accountability
• Oversee the global WPP Production team on this account, ensuring the right talent mix across all regions and identifying areas of investment to support growth
• Work closely with the Project Management team to ensure the successful delivery of all projects and workstreams, ensuring work is on time, on budget, and to the highest quality
• Supervise Account Directors partnership with Project Management to define project scope, manage timelines, allocate resources, and proactively mitigate risks across multiple concurrent workstreams
• Get hands-on with day-to-day account management when needed. This role requires someone who leads from the front and isn't afraid to dig into the details
• Supervise the implementation and maintainece of strong operational processes and ways of working that scale effectively across a complex, multi-market account
• Financial Leadership
• Own the financial health of the account including budgeting, forecasting, QRF management, P&L oversight, and profitability reporting
• Report on account performance vs. plan to senior WPP Production leadership with clear, data-backed insights

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed