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UK remote

New Business Director

VMLLondon, United Kingdom

About this role

Who We Are VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and award-winning human-first work for clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. In 2026, VML was named Campaign’s Global Network of the Year and ranked #2 Creative Network of the Year at Cannes Lions.

VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. VML is part of WPP , the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML. Reporting into the Chief Growth Officer of VML UK, the successful candidate will demonstrate: Commercial Growth & New Business Leadership • Proven track record of delivering and exceeding new business revenue, margin and pipeline targets within a communications, consulting or agency environment. • Significant experience developing and executing new business strategies, prospecting programmes and pursuit plans that generate measurable commercial results.

• Strong commercial acumen with a deep understanding of client business challenges, marketing transformation and the evolving communications landscape. • Experience supporting integrated opportunities across complex organisations and multidisciplinary teams, including cross-agency and cross-network pursuits. • Ability to identify, qualify and prioritise opportunities, balancing strategic value, commercial potential and likelihood of success.

New Business Development & Pursuit Excellence • Proven ability to take a proactive role in prospecting, including developing target account lists, identifying routes to market, crafting pursuit strategies and driving engagement programmes. • Significant experience managing RFIs, RFPs, credentials requests, chemistry meetings and competitive pitch processes from qualification through to outcome. • Strong understanding of consultant-led procurement processes and agency review programmes.

• Experience coordinating integrated pitch and pursuit initiatives across multiple capabilities, disciplines and partner organisations. • Ability to maintain oversight of all live opportunities and ensure momentum, accountability and progress across the pipeline. • Highly organised with excellent project management skills and the ability to manage multiple opportunities simultaneously without compromising quality. Market Intelligence & Opportunity Management • Demonstrates a strong understanding of market trends, competitive activity and emerging industry developments.

• Naturally curious and commercially minded, with the ability to identify opportunities from market signals and business change. • Analytical and methodical in approach, using data and insight to inform decision-making and prioritisation. • Committed to continually improving processes, ways of working and pursuit effectiveness. Relationship Building & Influencing • Outstanding relationship development and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to build credibility and influence with senior clients, consultants, agency leadership and WPP stakeholders. • Strong networking, influencing and negotiation skills with the confidence to challenge constructively when required. • Demonstrates emotional intelligence and excellent judgement when navigating complex stakeholder environments. Marketing, Brand & Agency Profile • Experience supporting or delivering marketing and profile- building initiatives that enhance agency visibility and supportgrowth ambitions.

• Strong understanding of brand positioning, thought leadership, events, content and PR as drivers of awareness and commercial opportunity. • Demonstrates genuine passion for creativity, innovation and the work produced by VML. Business Development Operations & Enablement • Experience maintaining and continually improving a best-in- class new business infrastructure, including case studies, credentials, pitch materials and sales tools.

• Proven ability to create, organise and manage content libraries, ensuring key materials are easily accessible and consistently maintained. • Comfortable developing credentials presentations and supporting materials for client meetings, leadership presentations and ad hoc business development activity. • Strong experience using Salesforce (or equivalent CRM platforms) to manage pipeline data, track opportunities, support forecasting and produce management reporting.

• High attention to detail and commitment to process excellence, governance and quality standards. Leadership & Collaboration • An inspiring, collaborative leader with experience managing, coaching and developing high-performing teams. • Ability to motivate and mobilise cross-functional teams around growth opportunities and shared commercial goals. • Demonstrates accountability, ownership and the ability to create momentum in fast-paced environments.

• Strong team player who builds trusted partnerships across functions, disciplines and leadership teams. Communication & Presentation Excellence • Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills. • Ability to distil complex information into clear, compelling and persuasive narratives. • Experience developing and refining pitch stories, credentials presentations and client-facing communications. • Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing work of consistently high quality.

Personal Attributes • Highly self-motivated, entrepreneurial and results-oriented. • Demonstrates initiative, creative thinking and a proactive approach to problem-solving. • Calm, resilient and confident under pressure. • Able to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines while maintaining quality and attention to detail. • Organised, adaptable and comfortable operating within ambiguity. • Energetic, curious and passionate about driving growth.

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 an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexi

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