Account Director(Global leading Marketing Activation business)

The client As a next-generation brand activation agency, our purpose is to simplify our clients’ below-the-line marketing, build sustainable ROI and engage their customers across the path to purchase. Everything we do is optimised through leading strategic capability and actioned through executional excellence. Our substantial investment in our technology and data science capability and resources provides our differentiation in the marketplace. Data insights and marketing technology enable us to measure our work, with ROI as the most critical metric in today’s environment. We see ROI where others don't. We are the only agency that combines creative, data, and technology talent with production and procurement expertise to enhance your marketing performance and efficiency. We achieve ROI for our clients by helping them deliver more engaging, cost-effective, and sustainable customer experiences. Our values We are collaborative, we thrive through our relationships. We are courageous , we create boldly and execute fearlessly. We are authentic, we act with integrity and transparency. We are pioneering , we win when we lead the way. We are purpose-driven , we create meaningful, sustainable and profitable brand experiences. We are an equal opportunities employer and as such, will make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate the needs of all candidates. If you have any such needs or requirements in the context of your interview, please notify us so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. About the team This role is part of one of adm Indicia’s largest global partnerships, supporting a client relationship that spans multiple markets and service lines. As part of a broader transformation programme, the team is evolving to unlock greater strategic value, improve marketing effectiveness, and achieve operational excellence across regions. A key part of this evolution is the implementation of Procurement-as-a-Service (PaaS), which enables a more agile and insight-driven approach to sourcing, decision-making, and performance monitoring. The Account Director plays a crucial role in implementing this locally, ensuring in-market operations meet procurement KPIs while also supporting innovative and strategic goals. The Account Director reports to the Regional Client Partner and works closely with performance, strategy, creative, and production leads to deliver against market-level needs and regional priorities. Although this role has in-market responsibilities, it remains fully integrated into the broader account ecosystem, collaborating across borders to ensure that insight, innovation, and impact are shared and scaled. This is a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment with a strong culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement. The Account Director plays a crucial leadership role in shaping how we present ourselves every day — with curiosity, ambition, and a deep dedication to our client’s success. Purpose of the role The Account Director is the senior in-market lead responsible for owning and developing the client relationship, ensuring operational excellence, and unlocking future value opportunities. They lead the in-market team and act as the key contact between the client and teams, ensuring all activities align with both immediate requirements and long-term strategic goals. This is a dual-focused leadership role – ensuring daily delivery excellence while also working with marketing, brand, and shopper teams to identify how they can support higher up the value chain. The AD brings deep category knowledge and market insight to help shape more effective and impactful campaigns, activations, and sourcing strategies. They act as the strategic anchor of the local team, establishing standards, shaping client thinking, and motivating the team to achieve bold ambitions. They play a crucial role in translating global strategy into local action, ensuring regional performance results in tangible impact at the market level. Key Responsibilities: Own and lead the client relationship, ensuring alignment to commercial and marketing priorities Inspire, mentor, and lead the in-market team to achieve operational excellence, innovation, and client satisfaction. Advance the strategic agenda by pinpointing areas to progress up the marketing value chain. Build strong relationships with client stakeholders across marketing, shopper, brand, and procurement Partner with strategy, performance, and production teams to deliver seamless, integrated solutions Ensure all delivery is aligned with contractual obligations, KPIs, SLAs, and quality expectations Act as the market’s voice within the regional structure, escalating needs and opportunities to the Regional Client Partner. Champion ongoing improvement by identifying process, creative, or operational enhancements that unlock value. Skills, knowledge, experience and exposure Minimum 10 years’ experience in agency, client services, or marketing delivery Proven experience leading client relationships in complex, fast-moving environments Strong commercial understanding and P&L awareness Excellent leadership and people development skills Deep understanding of shopper strategy and retail activation Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to balance short-term priorities and long-term strategic goals Confident working with senior stakeholders across marketing, procurement, and commercial functions Experience managing cross-functional teams to deliver integrated solutions and measurable outcomes Comfortable operating in matrixed, multi-market organisations Mindset and temperament to navigate the role The ideal Account Director is both a strategic thinker and a hands-on leader—someone who excels at the intersection of relationship building, operational excellence, and commercial growth. They bring a clear sense of purpose and direction to the team, navigating ambiguity with confidence and agility. With a proactive mindset, they anticipate client needs, identify opportunities early, and stay ahead of challenges. Calm under pressure, they provide clarity and reassurance when stakes are high, balancing short-term delivery demands with longer-term strategic ambitions. They are natural collaborators and relationship builders, earning trust through integrity, action, and results. Comfortable leading conversations with senior stakeholders, they influence with credibility and communicate clearly. Curious and engaged with the market, they bring innovative ideas and champion continuous improvement. As a team leader, they are motivating, inclusive, and dedicated to developing others — inspiring high performance while fostering a culture of openness and accountability. Any specific role requirements This is an in-market role and requires the Account Director to be based in the client’s office on a day-to-day basis. Fluent in English and local market language. Experience working across shopper, trade, or retail channels is preffered