WPP Media – Business Director, Implementation Planning – MM&D
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world‑class partnerships, WPP Open – our pioneering agentic marketing platform – helps clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.
WPP Media is WPP’s AI‑driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.
Role Summary and Impact
As an Implementation Planning Business Director, you lead integrated media excellence and strategic planning across multiple client accounts. This leadership role drives media transformation, develops our Implementation Planning offering and integrates all media strategies (brand to performance) across digital, traditional, audio, VOD and AV. You foster innovation, manage commercial aspects and develop talent, engaging confidently with senior stakeholders. You advise clients on adapting strategies within the WPP Open ecosystem, defining processes aligned with the OASIS (objective, audience, strategy, implementation & scoring) framework, and leveraging WPP Open Intelligence. You oversee client portfolios’ soft P&L, drive commercial plans and ensure PCA insights are integrated into future strategy.
Reporting Structure
Reports to Head of Implementation Planning.
Key Responsibilities
* Line manage a team of Account Directors, providing coaching, feedback and development in integrated media, data analytics and media testing.
* Lead Implementation Planning evolution, identifying growth opportunities and driving media transformation projects while advising clients on integrated media strategies.
* Elevate Implementation Planning’s profile through training, presentations and by showcasing successful integrated media and testing initiatives; advise senior leadership on emerging trends.
* Continuously review and improve planning, optimisation and budget processes within WPP Open, ensuring clear inputs, outputs and handovers with communications planners, strategists and activation teams.
* Oversee soft P&L, drive revenue growth, manage team allocations, develop commercial plans and support new business pitches.
* Build strong relationships with senior clients, partners and internal departments (Data & Analytics, Investment, Strategists, Communications Planners, Activation teams across all channels), ensuring deep collaboration to align Implementation and overarching media strategies.
* Partner with client teams, communications planners and strategists to lead integrated media conversations, driving critical projects with emphasis on rigorous media testing and innovation roadmaps.
* Craft learning agendas for media testing, define KPIs, agree on robust reporting infrastructure leveraging WPP Open Intelligence and integrate PCA insights into future strategy.
Skills and Experience
* Proven planning and buying experience across diverse media channels, with significant leadership and deep understanding of full‑funnel brand/performance media.
* Mastery of integrated media strategies (digital, traditional, audio, VOD, AV), demonstrating channel connection and interaction.
* Expertise in designing, implementing and analysing media testing frameworks, utilising WPP Open Intelligence.
* Passion for new/emerging channels & technologies and their business outcome potential.
* Excellent communication, confidently presenting complex integrated media strategies to senior stakeholders and coordinating with communications planners, strategists and wider teams.
* Highly numerate with strong analytical skills, able to interrogate data (e.g., TGI/YouGov, Google Analytics, ad servers, social analytics, data visualisation tools) for actionable insights and media testing.
* Proven experience leading, coaching and developing teams, fostering expertise in integrated media planning, data‑driven insights and effective media testing.
* Experience driving organic growth and supporting new business pitches, with an entrepreneurial mindset and understanding of P&L management in multi‑channel media.
* Passion for learning, curiosity and a proactive, problem‑solving approach to media excellence within the WPP Open operating model, aligned with OASIS principles.
Core Values
* Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire Transformational Creativity.
* Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
* Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilise the Enterprise.
Life at WPP Media & Benefits
WPP Media invests in employees to help them do their best work. We offer competitive medical, group retirement, vision and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and mental‑health awareness days. We host frequent in‑office events, celebrate milestones, and support employee resource groups.
Equal Opportunity Statement
WPP Media is an equal‑opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular 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.
Work Location
This is a UK‑based role and requires the candidate to have the right to work in the UK. Please discuss any required accommodations or flexibility with the hiring team during the interview process.
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