Business Director, Pakistan

About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

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.

 

3 best things about the job:

• Be part of a talented and passionate team shaping innovative entertainment, sports and partnership solutions.
• Work closely with leading brands, media owners, platforms, talent and industry partners.
• Opportunity to develop and execute industry-first partnerships and high-impact brand experiences.

In this role, your goals will be:

In three months:

• Develop a strong understanding of ESP offerings, commercial models, partnership solutions and key industry stakeholders.
• Build a comprehensive understanding of the local entertainment, sports, content and partnership landscape, including key platforms, media owners, talent and vendors.
• Understand client requirements, agency processes and commercial opportunities across ESP.
• Establish strong relationships with key internal teams and external partners.
• Review existing ESP partnerships, campaigns and revenue opportunities.

In six months:

• Develop and execute innovative ESP solutions aligned with client objectives and business KPIs.
• Deliver strong commercial value through negotiations with partners, media owners and suppliers.
• Identify new business and revenue opportunities across clients and agencies.
• Ensure all agreed campaign, commercial and delivery commitments are met.
• Strengthen ESP's positioning and adoption across the market.

In 12 months:

• Establish strong and sustainable relationships with key clients, media owners, platforms, talent and strategic partners.
• Demonstrate strong command of ESP processes, commercial models and day-to-day operations.
• Lead high-value negotiations and close strategic partnership deals.
• Drive the development of innovative ESP solutions across local and regional opportunities.
• Establish ESP as a leading centre of expertise, driving awareness and thought leadership across the industry.
• Represent the organisation at relevant industry events and forums.

 

What your day job looks like at WPP:

The Director – ESP will lead the development and growth of ESP across the market, working closely with clients, agencies, media owners, content and partnership teams, trading, finance and other internal stakeholders. The role will be responsible for driving revenue, developing strategic partnerships, delivering innovative solutions and building ESP capabilities in the market.

1. Drive ESP Growth & Adoption

• Identify and develop revenue opportunities across clients and agencies.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of ESP opportunities.
• Develop tailored ESP solutions and commercial propositions based on client requirements.
• Lead pitches and presentations for strategic ESP opportunities.
• Work with agencies to establish annual ESP targets and growth plans.
• Drive adoption of ESP solutions across the organisation.

1. Client Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key clients and decision-makers.
• Understand client business and marketing objectives and translate them into relevant ESP opportunities.
• Provide clients with insights, benchmarks, innovations and recommendations.
• Ensure exceptional delivery and client experience across ESP campaigns.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and generate incremental revenue.

1. Partnerships & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key media owners, platforms, sports properties, entertainment partners, content creators and other stakeholders.
• Identify new partnership opportunities and emerging platforms.
• Lead commercial negotiations to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Develop strategic partnerships that create long-term value for clients and the organisation.
• Maintain a strong understanding of market trends, competitor offerings and industry developments.

1. Internal Agencies

• Educate and enable agency teams on ESP capabilities and opportunities.
• Develop tools, guidelines and materials to support ESP adoption.
• Support agencies in business development, campaign ideation and execution.
• Act as a subject-matter expert and strategic partner for agency teams.

1. Innovation & Product Development

• Identify emerging opportunities across sports, entertainment, content, talent and partnerships.
• Contribute to the development of the ESP product and solution roadmap.
• Introduce innovative partnership models and new revenue streams.
• Drive industry-first initiatives that differentiate ESP in the market.
• Share global and regional best practices and adapt them for the local market.

1. Trading, Finance & Business Operations

• Partner closely with Trading, Finance and Business Operations teams to ensure commercial alignment.
• Develop and monitor client- and agency-level revenue targets.
• Ensure accurate commercial, billing and financial reporting.
• Monitor campaign profitability and overall business performance.
• Ensure all contractual, commercial and operational requirements are met.

1. People Leadership

• Lead, develop and empower the ESP team locally.
• Set clear SMART objectives and performance expectations.
• Build team capabilities through coaching, training and knowledge sharing.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative and high-performance culture.
• Develop future ESP talent and succession capabilities.

What you’ll bring:

• An entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify and develop new business opportunities.
• Strong understanding of the entertainment, sports, content, influencer and partnership ecosystem.
• Strong understanding of media and agency processes and structures.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to assess opportunities and business cases.
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent presentation, communication and storytelling skills.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with senior clients and industry stakeholders.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to think creatively and strategically.
• Strong leadership and people management capabilities.
• Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced and constantly evolving environment.
• Fluent in Urdu and English.

Minimum qualifications:

• Must be a BBA / MBA from a reputable university or equivalent.
• 8+ years of experience in media, marketing, entertainment, sports, partnerships, content or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in a senior commercial, partnerships, business development or client-facing role.
• Proven experience in developing strategic partnerships, negotiating commercial deals and delivering integrated brand solutions.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, employee wellbeing facilities, 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 are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. 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. 

About Pakistan

WPP Media Pakistan is the leading global media investment management operation in Pakistan. We see major growth coming on Digital platforms with internet penetration growing to 87 million broadband users and 85 million 3G/4G subscribers. Social media platforms have also grown substantially in Pakistan where Facebook stands at 34 million subscribers and Tik Tok has replaced Instagram to become the second most penetrated social platform. While the digitalization of the market is happening at a fast pace, it has also opened up opportunities for specializations like e-commerce, Digital Content, Video Planning solutions, Technology and Data & Analytics in Pakistan. 

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide. While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. 

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