At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global partnerships and drive innovative growth strategies for Heineken.
- Company: Join a leading agency group with a dynamic culture and global reach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and the chance to work with top brands.
- Other info: Work in a fast-paced environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of media innovation and make a real impact on a global scale.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in media or marketing, with strong leadership and strategic skills.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 £ per year.
As the Global Client Lead, you will serve as the architect of the global partnership between our agency group and Heineken—our largest network client. This is a high-profile, executive-level role designed for a visionary leader who can seamlessly bridge enterprise-grade operations with transformative growth strategies. You will orchestrate our global capabilities across media, data, technology, and business transformation, ensuring our operating model evolves ahead of the market to drive measurable business outcomes for Heineken worldwide.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Account Management & Client Partnership
- Elevate Senior Relationships: Cultivate trusted, peer-level partnerships with Heineken’s global C-suite and senior procurement leaders, acting as a strategic advisor who deeply understands their brand portfolio and commercial ambitions.
- Architect the Growth Roadmap: Design and execute the annual global business plan, translating Heineken’s long-term business goals into a concrete roadmap for shared growth and network innovation.
- Commercial & Contractual Governance: Serve as the ultimate custodian of the global client P&L, expertly navigating complex global contracts, driving commercial health, and achieving agreed-upon financial targets.
- Expand Network Footprint: Proactively identify organic growth opportunities, cross-selling and up-selling the agency group’s diversified capabilities to expand our strategic footprint within the Heineken ecosystem.
- Operational Excellence & Business Transformation
- Modernise the Operating Model: Drive continuous business and marketing transformation by evolving our cross-border infrastructure, ensuring agility, speed-to-market, and maximum resource efficiency.
- Integrated Solutions Orchestration: Break down internal silos to synthesise capabilities across Media and other dentsu practices, delivering unified, borderless solutions for the client.
- Data & Technology Pioneering: Embed data-driven insights and emerging technology at the core of all client solutions, pioneering next-generation approaches to media optimisation for a highly sophisticated advertiser.
- Support the Global Hub Model: Work closely with Hub leadership to champion and optimise the newly established global hub ecosystem.
- Operational Best Practice: Build and oversee various specialised operational units, ensuring operational practises are embedded, efficient and effective.
- Leadership, Culture & Influence
- Govern a Borderless Matrix: Direct a high-performing core global team while effectively influencing, inspiring, and aligning local market leaders, regional hubs, and client leads across priority markets.
- Foster a High-Performance Culture: Build a culturally connected, "best-in-class" global community dedicated to creative clarity and operational precision, consistently driving top-tier Client Relationship (TRR) scores.
- SME Integration: Act as the strategic conduit between specialised subject-matter experts and the core client team, ensuring deep technical capabilities are seamlessly integrated into the broader account strategy.
Key Selection Disciplines & Experience
- Enterprise Account Management: A proven track record of steering multi-million-pound global accounts within a major media or marketing services network, with specific experience managing complex, procurement-led client relationships.
- Transformation-Led Operations: Deep expertise in designing and optimising complex operating models, specifically centralising capabilities via global or regional hubs to drive delivery excellence.
- Matrixed Leadership: Exceptional emotional intelligence and political acumen, with a demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams across a highly matrixed, global footprint.
Experience & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Advertising, Communications, Business, or related field.
- 15+ years’ experience in media, marketing, or communications roles, either client-side or agency-side.
- Strong experience within FMCG, consumer goods, lifestyle, or global brand-led organisations preferred.
- Experience operating within international or matrixed organisations.
Skills & Expertise
- Media & Digital Expertise
- Strong understanding of media planning across global, regional, and/or local markets.
- Deep knowledge of digital media ecosystems and leading global platforms including Meta and Google.
- Experience using data, analytics, and measurement frameworks to drive media effectiveness and optimisation.
- Understanding of media governance, agency management, and operational best practices.
- Stakeholder & Leadership Capability
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across multiple levels and functions.
- Ability to navigate complexity and drive alignment across diverse global markets.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Strong project leadership and execution capabilities.
Personal Attributes
- Strategic thinker with a proactive, self-starting mindset.
- Agile, adaptable, and comfortable operating in fast-changing environments.
- Collaborative and relationship-oriented, with the ability to influence without authority.
- Passionate about media innovation, capability building, and continuous improvement.
About Heineken
Heineken N.V. is a preeminent global leader in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) and beverage sectors. As the world’s most international brewer and the second largest by volume, the company operates as a highly sophisticated, data-driven global marketer with a commercial footprint spanning over 190 countries. Heineken manages a complex matrix of more than 300 premium, regional, local, and specialty brands. This portfolio is strategically segmented to capture diverse consumer occasions and premium price points:
- The Global Flagship: Heineken® (including its high-growth, zero-alcohol counterpart, Heineken® 0.0), which serves as the primary driver of the company’s premiumization strategy worldwide.
- International Premium Brands: High-equity labels such as Amstel, Desperados, Sol, Tiger, Tecate, and Birra Moretti.
- Cider & Specialty Leadership: Leading global positions in cider (e.g., Strongbow) and a growing portfolio of craft and non-alcoholic beverages.
Location: London
Brand: Global Carat
Time Type: Full time
Contract Type: Permanent
Global Client Lead in London employer: Dentsu
At our agency, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for the Global Client Lead role based in London. Our vibrant work culture fosters innovation and collaboration, providing employees with ample opportunities for professional growth and development while working with a prestigious client like Heineken. With a commitment to operational excellence and a focus on employee well-being, we offer a dynamic environment where visionary leaders can thrive and make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Client Lead in London
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Dentsu and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Dentsu are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Dentsu on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Dentsu. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Global Client Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Dentsu. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Dentsu:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Dentsu’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dentsu
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Dentsu will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At Dentsu, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
