At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead tech-driven transformations and shape innovative AI solutions for clients.
- Company: Join AKQA, a creative tech company redefining customer experiences.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on creativity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by integrating AI into business strategies and customer experiences.
- Qualifications: Strong technical expertise and strategic leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
At AKQA, we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products, and services.
We design connected experiences that transform brands and businesses through the integration of creativity, technology, and data.
We are seeking an Executive Technical Director to lead and shape technology-driven transformation for our clients.
This role combines deep technical expertise with strategic thinking, client leadership, and a strong point of view on how AI is redefining customer experience, commerce, and business operations.
The Executive Technical Director operates as a senior partner to both clients and internal leadership, helping define how AI and modern technology reshape customer experience, commerce, and business operations.
They translate business ambition into technology strategy, identify and originate new opportunities, and drive the creation of innovative, AI-enabled products and experiences.
This role is critical in scaling AKQA’s impact by extending CTO-level thinking across key clients and engagements in the region.
- ROLE REQUIREMENTS Technical Leadership
- Define and drive end-to-end technical strategy and architecture across complex ecosystems Lead design of scalable, secure, cloud-native systems
- Champion MACH architectures
- Establish engineering standards and best practices Oversee architecture, integrations, and data flows
- Drive modern development practices (CI/CD, Dev Ops, etc.)
Partner with Data teams on data architecture, personalisation strategies, and real-time decisioning systems
- Client & Strategic Leadership
- Act as a senior technology partner to clients, leading strategic conversations at C-level across AI, platforms, and digital transformation
- Translate business ambition and customer experience goals into clear, actionable technology strategies and roadmaps
- Shape and originate new opportunities, from early-stage thinking through to solution definition and proposal
- Lead technical discovery, solution design, and estimation for new business and pitches
- Drive the conversion of innovation initiatives (POCs, pilots) into scaled programmes and long-term partnerships Navigate complex enterprise environments, influencing stakeholders across business, technology, and experience functions
- Proactively identify whitespace opportunities and define new AI-led use cases, propositions, and engagement models for clients
- AI, Innovation & Product Thinking
- Define how AI transforms client business models, customer experience, and operational efficiency
- Identify and shape AI-driven opportunities, products, and services that create tangible business value
- Apply generative AI, LLMs, and agent-based systems to real-world use cases across commerce, marketing, and service
- Contribute to the development of AI-led propositions, accelerators, and repeatable offerings
- Lead the integration of AI into end-to-end solutions, from use case definition to architecture and deployment
- Ensure responsible AI implementation, including governance, scalability, and compliance
- Customer Experience & Business Understanding
- Strong understanding of customer journeys, digital ecosystems, and experience design principles
- Ability to connect technology decisions to customer experience quality, brand impact, and business outcomes
- Experience working within large, complex organisations, understanding governance, stakeholders, and decision-making dynamics
- Ability to bridge strategy, design, data, and technology into cohesive solutions
- Delivery & Team
- Oversee delivery across multiple programmes, ensuring technical quality, performance, and scalability
- Lead and mentor senior engineers and technical leaders, building high-performing, distributed teams
- Contribute to AKQA’s technical roadmap, capability development, and thought leadership
- Help scale technology leadership across the region by elevating senior talent and acting as a proxy for CTO-level thinking when required
- Act as a senior representative of AKQA’s technology leadership in key client engagements, operating with autonomy and authority
- QUALITIES & CHARACTERISTICS
- Strong strategic thinker, able to connect business ambition, customer experience, and technology into clear, differentiated propositions
- A client-first technology leader, comfortable operating at senior levels within complex organisations and influencing strategic direction
- Deep technical credibility across platform engineering, distributed systems, and modern web/application stacks
- A natural leader and coach, experienced in developing senior technical talent and building engineering capability
- Passionate about engineering craft, including code quality, performance, scalability, and maintainability
- Deeply fluent in AI and emerging technologies, with the ability to translate them into concrete client opportunities, products, and transformation programmes
- Confident communicator, able to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders at senior levels
- Collaborative and cross-disciplinary, thriving in environments that blend creativity, technology, and data
- Calm and decisive in complex environments, balancing strategic vision with practical delivery
- Highly credible in client environments, with strong communication and presentation skills, able to influence senior stakeholders
- Commercially minded, with experience shaping solutions that drive revenue, growth, and long-term client value
- Entrepreneurial and proactive, bringing ideas and opportunities rather than only responding to briefs
- Comfortable operating across strategy, experience, and technology, not confined to a single discipline
We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection.
That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days.
If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular 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.
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands.
We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.
For more information, visit
WPP. com .
Executive Technical Director in London employer: AKQA
AKQA London is an exceptional employer that values creativity and collaboration, offering a vibrant work culture in the heart of Farringdon. As a part-time Studio Concierge & Events Coordinator, you'll enjoy flexible working arrangements while contributing to a dynamic team dedicated to delivering outstanding client experiences. With opportunities for professional growth and a supportive environment, AKQA fosters an atmosphere where your skills can flourish and your contributions are recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Technical Director in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at AKQA or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to AKQA.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like AKQA.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like AKQA that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Technical Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at AKQA.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at AKQA and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at AKQA
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If AKQA uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
