Business Director - Communications Consultancy

Overview

The Business Director is a senior leadership role responsible for end to end stewardship of client relationships within the Publicis Groupe ecosystem. The role requires deep understanding of how a modern holding company operates across multiple agencies, verticals, and specialist capabilities while ensuring seamless, integrated delivery to clients.

This role acts as a champion of integration, translating the Groupe’s structure, processes, and Power of One approach into practical, day to day ways of working that drive better outcomes for clients, teams, and the business.

The role carries responsibility for strategic client partnership, business growth, creative excellence, team leadership, commercial performance, operational governance, and contribution to both business and non business agency objectives.

Responsibilities

Client Leadership and Account Ownership

• Serve as the primary senior client partner, owning relationships at a strategic, operational, and commercial level
• Co lead annual and quarterly business planning, ensuring client objectives are met through the right mix of Groupe capabilities
• Maintain strong senior level client trust while navigating complex stakeholder environments on both client and agency sides
• Proactively identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and integration across the client’s business
  
  

Groupe Integration and Power of One Leadership

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of Publicis Groupe verticals and specialist capabilities including creative, media, PR, data, technology, CX, production, and commerce
• Act as an integrator, connecting the right teams, agencies, and expertise to solve client problems holistically
• Champion the Power of One model in day to day operations as a working reality
• Ensure smooth collaboration across agencies by aligning on roles, responsibilities, governance, and decision making
• Navigate and uphold Groupe processes, systems, and ways of working, ensuring compliance without compromising speed or creativity
  
  

Business Growth and New Business

• Co drive organic growth across assigned accounts through strategic thinking, strong delivery, and integrated solutions
• Co lead and support new business pitches within the Groupe, coordinating multiple agencies and disciplines into a single coherent response
• Work closely with strategy, creative, media, data, and technology teams to build strong, unified pitch narratives
• Contribute meaningfully to the agency and Groupe’s revenue, margin, and pipeline targets
  
  

Creative and Strategic Stewardship

• Champion creative excellence while balancing strategic rigor, operational reality, and commercial outcomes
• Ensure all briefs are clear, inspiring, and grounded in strong strategic insight
• Provide thoughtful senior level feedback that elevates the work and builds trust with creative teams
• Safeguard quality and consistency across outputs delivered by multiple teams or agencies
  
  

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team across client servicing and creative, often spanning more than one agency
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and mutual respect across the Groupe
• Support team development through coaching, performance management, and clear role definition
• Act as a stabilizing leader in complex, fast moving environments
  
  

Commercial, Operational and Governance Excellence

• Own the financial health of assigned accounts, including scopes of work, budgets, forecasts, and profitability
• Partner closely with finance, operations, and shared services teams to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and transparency
• Ensure compliance with Groupe processes, governance frameworks, and reporting requirements
• Balance commercial discipline with flexibility and client responsiveness
  
  

Agency and Groupe Contribution

• Act as a senior ambassador for Publicis Groupe values and culture
• Support non commercial objectives including talent development, integration initiatives, operational improvement, and knowledge sharing
• Contribute to leadership forums, internal projects, and Groupe wide initiatives
• Help strengthen the Groupe’s reputation through thought leadership and strong external relationships
• Build and contribute to a healthy working culture that is in line with the Groupe’s policies and practices
  
  

Qualifications

Education

• Undergraduate degree from a reputable university in business, advertising or marketing
• Master’s degree is an advantage
  
  

Experience

• 8 to 12 plus years experience in a networked advertising environment, ideally within Publicis Groupe or a similar holding company
• Proven experience managing complex, multi disciplinary client accounts
• Demonstrated success in new business pitching and organic growth
• Strong understanding of how large agency groups operate including integration models, shared services, and governance
• High level of commercial and operational acumen
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience working across multiple Publicis Groupe agencies or verticals
• Regional or global client exposure
• Experience in integrated or transformation led client engagements
  
  

Additional Information

R-3973P-4518

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