Managing Director, Head of Creative, Corporate Marketing

Ares Operations•New York, NY

About The Position

Ares is seeking a Managing Director–level executive to serve as Head of Creative within the Corporate Communications & Marketing group. This senior leadership role is responsible for defining and executing the firm’s global creative vision and brand expression. The Head of Creative will lead a multidisciplinary team spanning art direction, design, animation, video, and event design, and will partner closely with Corporate Communications & Marketing leadership to deliver high-impact campaigns, content, and brand experiences across all channels. The role translates complex strategic narratives into clear, compelling creative concepts; governs and evolves global brand standards; and drives operational excellence across workflows, resourcing models, and vendor partnerships. The position also champions innovation - including responsible adoption of AI-enabled creative tools - while ensuring quality, consistency, risk awareness, and strong internal client service.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required (Design, Visual Communication, Marketing, Communications, or a related field preferred).
15+ years of progressive, relevant professional experience, consistent with Managing Director–level expectations, in creative leadership, brand, design, or integrated marketing/communications
7+ years of people leadership experience, including managing managers and multidisciplinary creative teams.
Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale and global creative initiatives, including campaign development and brand expression across multiple channels.
Experience partnering closely with senior executives and cross-functional stakeholders to drive alignment, influence decisions, and deliver against business objectives.
Proven ownership of creative operations, including budget management, agency/vendor oversight, and resourcing decisions.
Strategic and conceptual creative leadership with strong business acumen.
Ability to translate complex narratives into clear, compelling creative direction.
Executive presence and credibility with senior leadership.
Operational discipline, prioritization, and sound judgment.
Strong collaboration and cross-functional partnership skills.
Change leadership mindset, including comfort with innovation and emerging technologies.
Commitment to talent development, team building, and high performance standards

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MBA, MA, or equivalent) is a plus
Preferred experience in asset management, financial services, or similarly regulated, reputation-sensitive industries.

Responsibilities

Creative Vision Lead and inspire a team across art direction, design execution, animation and video, and event design, elevating creative output across internal and external resources.
Define, evolve, and enforce global brand guidelines and visual identity to ensure consistent, high-impact expression across all Ares touchpoints.
In partnership with Corporate Communications & Marketing stakeholders, help concept and deliver global campaigns and original content that advance Ares’ narrative and business objectives.
Translate complex brand and campaign ideas into clear concepts, articulating creative rationale and driving excellence across teams and partners.
Strategic Partnership and Business Alignment Partner closely with the Co-Heads of Corporate Communications & Marketing and Marketing team leads to shape, strengthen, and evolve Ares’ brand expression.
Ensure all creative work is grounded in business strategy, supporting company goals, marketing priorities, and long-term brand growth.
Lead projects from concept through execution, ensuring clarity, alignment, timely delivery, budget discipline, and stakeholder approval.
Communicate creative ideas and strategies clearly across teams, enabling buy‑in and cohesive execution.
Quality Client Service Partner with client groups firmwide to ensure thorough requirements/needs intake, demand management, expectations management and quality delivery.
Address client service issues with a constructive collaborative approach.
Ensure core processes and technology relating to request lifecycle support timely and quality delivery.
Seek feedback and adjust approach as needed.
Innovation and Workflow Optimization Stay ahead of creative, marketing, and technology trends, including AI advancements, to inform strategy and maintain competitive advantage.
Partner with Technology and the firm’s broader AI governance to develop business cases around and seek approval for value-add AI tools to increase efficiency/speed or quality.
Optimize workflows and processes to increase efficiency and productivity across the global creative team.
Serve as a partner on content, UX, and data-informed creative approaches that enhance impact and meet evolving business needs.
Consider internal vs external sourcing models for categories of work for optimal and cost-effective delivery.
Review and enhance processes in support of broader team objectives.
Leadership, Governance & People Management Build and lead a global team with clear roles, career paths, and performance standards; coach leaders and high-potential talent.
Establish governance for brand and creative decisioning (intake, prioritization, escalation paths, approvals, and measurement).
Manage budgets and forecasting for creative operations, including vendor spend; ensure financial discipline and responsible resource allocation.
Maintain appropriate risk management practices (brand/reputation, information security, confidentiality, third-party risk, and compliance alignment as applicable).
Model executive presence, professionalism, and high integrity in all interactions.