Senior Sales Director, Events (MARI) in London

MARI is a global events and experiences company powering world‐defining live experiences. Our portfolio of premium live properties spans sports, art, and entertainment – including the Madrid and Miami Open tennis tournaments, Frieze (a leading voice in contemporary art), and Barrett‐Jackson (the premium U.S. collector car auction company). MARI also includes TodayTix Group, the global e-commerce leader for cultural experiences, connecting millions of customers with the best in live entertainment.

MARI is reshaping the live events landscape – building a growing portfolio of category‐defining events and brands that set the standard for what's next, across sports, entertainment, art, and lifestyle. At MARI, you'll work alongside people who are passionate, curious, and driven – people who believe that live experiences have the power to shape culture, and who care about the work, the mission, and each other. We welcome outstanding applicants of all backgrounds and encourage everyone to apply.

About the Role

We're hiring a sharp, organised Senior Sales Director to join us on a maternity cover basis. This is a key leadership role responsible for driving revenue growth, managing strategic client relationships, and providing direction to the sales team during a critical period. The ideal candidate will bring strong commercial acumen, a hands‐on approach, and the ability to maintain momentum while ensuring continuity and stability across the function. This is a fixed‐term contract role and qualified candidates must be based in London. You'll be part of a hybrid team that values both connection and flexibility – we'll cover the details of our hybrid schedule during the interview process.

Role and Responsibilities

• Primary focus of the role is to drive commercial revenues across the UK Arts & Entertainment Portfolio.
• Responsible for driving commercial revenue generation across the UK Portfolio focusing on opportunities and bookings of £50k + through new business and business development opportunities.
• Working closely with the UK event directors on maximising hospitality revenues.
• Act as a UK Hospitality Partnerships 'Lead' identifying key clients, nurturing relationships and cross‐selling opportunities.
• Maximise all revenue opportunities to achieve and exceed personal and team targets.
• Be seen as the subject matter expert on nurturing and growing client relationships internally.
• Collaborate and support colleagues across the A&E portfolio to help them achieve or exceed their targets by providing mentorship, best practice advice and new business ideas.
• Manage the Sales Operations Manager including ensuring they are meeting the requirements of the role and supporting their training and development.
• Identify and launch bespoke packages and options for existing clients increasing their spend wherever possible.
• Create and deliver sponsorship and hospitality presentations if applicable working with the event leads to close off new business.
• Perform contractual negotiations with clients through to signature.
• Account manage existing clients, progressing the relationship, taking new ideas for future events and keeping clients warm for 12 months.
• Be fully aware of competitor events, their commercial partnerships and key features that could help in the overall development of our portfolio.
• Consistently identify existing and new target companies (for £50k + opportunities) and generate face‐to‐face meetings to establish new relationships.
• Support and work closely with Senior Management and Event Directors to develop key relationships.
• Proactively propose new partnerships, collaborations and offerings for A&E properties and work with the Event Director to establish and deliver these.

Industry Relations

• Spend a considerable amount of time creating and developing relationships within the financial services, technology and computing, internet services and software and telecommunications industries to name a few.
• Develop a meaningful presence in the corporate hospitality landscape.
• Develop a strong understanding of corporate hospitality spend.
• Build enduring relationships with key corporate executives that influence marketing spend.

What You Bring

• A proven track record delivering high value deals and generating commercial revenue is required.
• A strong proven leadership ability both commercially and soft skills are required.
• Ability to package commercial rights in line with client objectives.
• Ability to deliver great leadership, and maintain a 'can‐do' and positive attitude at all times.
• Ability to handle pressure, remain professional and stay calm whilst dealing with difficult situations.
• Confident individual with the ability to have a positive impact on the future direction of the division, and build relationships and keep company culture buoyant.
• Team player with the ability to understand all areas of the portfolio and lend a hand where necessary.

Travel

• Regular weekend and evening work where you may be required to travel to events in line with the Arts & Entertainment portfolio.
• Outside of event travel there will be a requirement to travel for meetings as part of the role.

Benefits

• Hybrid work environment (blend of in‐office and at‐home days).
• Pension match and access to a bespoke pension scheme.
• Paid parental leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced gyms, wellness and financial wellbeing apps access via Wellhub.
• Flexible paid time off.

Diversity & Inclusion Statement

MARI believes in the power of live experiences to unite people – and we know that can only be achieved when we reflect the full diversity of the world around us. As a global company that shapes culture across sports, art, and entertainment, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and to practicing anti‐discrimination across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and beyond. We recognise that systemic inequality and discrimination remain challenges across the events and entertainment industry, and we are dedicated to driving meaningful progress – both within our own organisation and across the wider industry we are proud to be part of.