Head of Strategy

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.

The Global Director of Strategy and Planning will be the strategic architect and visionary leader behind a fast-growing global brand. This individual will define, articulate, and champion the brand’s strategic vision — helping the brand achieve its ambitious growth objectives while, more importantly, defining what comes next. The role requires translating complex insights and business objectives into clear, inspiring narratives that drive creativity, consistency, and performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Brand Vision and Definition: Own and articulate the global brand vision, ensuring it remains clear, differentiated, and culturally relevant across markets. Set our “North Star”. Continually look to drive the brand forwards, ensuring we constantly innovate and evolve while maintaining brand equity. Maintain a “What’s Next” mentality. Synthesize, simplify, and storytell complex strategic and business information into compelling, actionable direction for clients and internal teams. Champion the adoption of AI tools and platforms to accelerate strategic development.
• Strategic Ownership: Define measurable strategic KPIs aligned with business outcomes and marketing performance. Ensure strategic focus and priorities are clear. Help the brand focus on what matters. Drive data-driven decision making to help prioritise and focus initiatives based on insights.
• Consumer Obsession: Be the voice of the consumer in the business. Understand who we are talking to, what drives them, and how we can tailor our approaches accordingly. Partner with the insights team to fully understand the business, performance, and consumer behaviours.
• Partnership & Collaboration: Act as a senior strategic partner to the client’s global leadership team, providing thought leadership and counsel at the highest level. Build deep, trusted relationships across client and agency leadership to enable alignment, collaboration, and innovation.
• Innovation & Thought Leadership: Be the champion of strategic innovation — exploring new ways to drive brand growth through creativity, data, and cultural intelligence. Lead thought leadership initiatives to position the brand at the forefront of industry thinking.

Key Qualifications & Experience:

• 20+ years of strategic experience in marketing, advertising, or communications, ideally within a global agency network.
• Proven experience leading global brand strategy for large, complex, multinational clients.
• Deep understanding of brand building, consumer insights, cultural trends, and integrated marketing planning.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to connect strategic vision to tangible business outcomes.
• Track record of leading and inspiring diverse global teams, balancing strategic direction with creative collaboration.
• Exceptional communicator and storyteller.
• Experience working within or alongside trade, category, and shopper marketing functions is highly advantageous.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, matrixed global environments with multiple stakeholders.

Leadership Attributes:

• Visionary: Able to define and inspire long-term brand direction and purpose.
• Integrator: Brings together diverse markets, disciplines, and perspectives under one coherent brand strategy.
• Collaborator: Builds trusted relationships across teams, geographies, and organisations.
• Innovator: Constantly seeks new and better ways to deliver strategic and creative excellence.
• Mentor: Develops talent and fosters a culture of curiosity, creativity, and continuous improvement.

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 flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to 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.