Business Director, Planning

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help 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.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com .

2853 - Business Director, Planning 

Role Summary and Impact

EssenceMediacom:

EssenceMediacom, part of WPP, is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.

We are looking for a passionate and enthusiastic Business Director to lead the Müller, Bolton and Gumtree Client Leadership team. Müller are a leading dairy and food manufacturer and is a fabric of the nation brand in its own right, with a portfolio of famous sub-brands from the iconic Müller Corner to new brand collaborations with the likes of Myprotein. Bolton, on the other hand, is an international consumer goods company with a portfolio of FMCG brands, who recently started advertising in the UK and have big growth ambitions. Whereas Gumtree is one of the UK's largest online marketplaces and classifieds platforms, who are transforming their business for the modern age. This role offers a lot of variety with one central theme: to help grow the clients' businesses and the agency in unison.

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared 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  Mobilize the Enterprise .
• Our core values within our business unit are: -
  • All in – passionate about the industry, our clients and creating great work
  • Action-orientated – our clients move fast and there can be multiple workstreams to juggle Decision making and a keen focus on delivery are essential
  • Personal growth – we are motivated by growing ourselves and our teams
• Excellent leadership capability, both internally within the agency and with senior clients. Experience of leading large teams highly desired
• An analytical and inquisitive mindset and a passion for the industry
• A detailed understanding of communications planning with experience identifying the role for role for paid, owned, and earned media channels, and their contribution to business outcomes, both brand and performance
• Extensive digital experience, including working with in-house specialist teams
• Creative flair to enable campaign ideas to stand out and cut through a cluttered marketplace.
• Excellent communication skills, including leading cross agency teams and communicating effectively with multiple stakeholders
• Strong organisation skills, with the ability to manage a diverse workload and prioritise key work streams

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. 

We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days. 

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. 

#LI-Promoted

Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.