Managing Director

Location: Twickenham

Hybrid Working: 3 Days in the Office

We are Wonderly, an award-winning progressive content marketing agency and part of the Haymarket Media Group. We work with ambitious brands to deliver brilliant campaigns and communications across print, digital and live events. Our clients include: Volkswagen Group UK, Kew Gardens, The FA, The Society of Radiographers and the CIPD to name a few.

As part of the Haymarket Media Group we have all the benefits of an independent agency but with none of the downsides. Our culture is inclusive and collaborative and reflects the diverse bunch of brilliant people that work here. We’re about creating a work life balance that brings the best out of everyone... and having a bit of fun along the way. Lastly, and by no means least, because we’re a small agency, everyone gets the chance to make a big impact.

Purpose

The Managing Director of Wonderly is tasked with developing and refining the growth strategy for the agency. Underpinning the commercially-focused strategy, the MD will ensure we have the right operating model and structure in place - working closely with the central teams, as we focus our ambitions on being the leading content marketing agency of choice.

The agency’s culture is aligned with Haymarket’s core value-set and operating framework, whilst having its own agency identity driving a high-performance client-facing, commercially-oriented business, focused on fewer, bigger, smarter bets and how that translates into Wonderly’s service offering, sectors and financial profile.

The Role

The MD is responsible for setting the direction, developing the new business and retention strategies, and building on our existing best-in-class credentials. They will lead the new business and pitch process and be ultimately accountable for the delivery of exceptional client services. The MD has P&L responsibility for Wonderly, with cash flow management being an absolute priority. The MD will provide strong leadership ensuring the agency attracts, retains and develops the right talent to drive the business forward.

Responsibilities

• Review the strategy and positioning, and make recommendations as appropriate for the business value proposition… go-to market positioning, cost base, services, new business, etc
• Devise an optimal operating structure to support both the business goals and objectives
• Build a new-business focused culture and strategy for growth
• Improve the profit profile of the group, including enhanced margin delivery to ensure the quality of earnings deliver sustainable income over the client lifecycle
• Building key internal relationships, fostering collaboration to build the profile of Wonderly and the wider Haymarket brand
• Developing a deep vertical understanding of core sectors and competitor activity, understanding and being able to clearly articulate Wonderly’s point of difference
• Manage all parts of the business with rigorous cost control and maximising of revenues
• Set clear targets and KPIs, holding senior reports accountable for the performance of the business
• Lead a minimum bi-annual Board meetings, producing detailed board reports
• Own the new business process, pipeline and reporting
• Build strong, effective, advisory relationships with senior level clients
• Take the lead in pitches for new business
• Ensure the Wonderly leadership team is laser focused on key markets and targets clients

Skills / Experience / Knowledge / Minimum Criteria

The successful candidate will have a proven leadership track record of delivery against the following skills and experience:

• Building and nurturing a strong, inclusive, motivated high-performance cultures
• Devising and implementing a clear, engaging strategic vision with underpinning objectives and key performance indicators
• Leading an innovative and sustainable business
• Embedding client service excellence throughout the agency
• Building and leveraging trusted commercial relationships and partnerships
• Building effective industry networks - ‘living’ in market and senior connections with clients and industry leaders
• Takes a long-term view in leading businesses through change, with short to medium term milestones against which to measure progress
• Developing and empowering collaborative and cohesive high-performance teams
• Exceptional communication skills – verbal, written, and listening – both internally and externally
• Emotional intelligence
• Assumes ultimate leadership accountability and decision-making
• Effective management and delegation
• Acts always with integrity and in the best interests of the Company, our people, our communities and the planet
• Strong financial acumen
• Planning and forecasting and ability to manage and develop new financial business models
• Knowledge of diverse markets, changing business environments and how this affects client needs
• Influencing and persuading skills

We are a Disability Confident employer and offer guaranteed interviews to all disabled applicants who meet the above minimum criteria. To be considered as part of this initiative, please ensure you indicate if you have a disability when applying for the post. If you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at recruitment@haymarket.com.

Why work with us?

Haymarket Media Group values its people and strives to shape a better future with remarkable content. From paid content and subscription services; to integrated advertising and content marketing packages. We deliver market-leading branded experiences that inspire great decisions. From data and digital information solutions to live events, awards and professional education services.

Our benefits include:

• 25 days holiday per year excluding bank holidays (increasing 1 day per year of service up to 30 days)
• Work from anywhere in the world for up to 3 weeks of the year with our ‘Work from Anywhere’ days
• Flexible working hours (core hours from 10-3) allowing you the flexibility to adapt your work schedule to your personal commitments
• Generous contributory pension scheme
• Health Cash Plans: With our health cash plans, you can access a range of healthcare benefits, including coverage for medical expenses, dental care, optical services, and more

More about working for Haymarket

Working here means being part of a commitment to shaping a better future. As a proudly Certified B Corp, we are part of a global movement of businesses acting as a force for good. Haymarket Impact is focused on making a positive difference globally, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and intertwined with an unwavering commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. This commitment to balancing profit with purpose is deeply embedded in our culture, reflected in our values of Integrity, Respect, Creativity, Innovation, and Expertise.

We invest heavily in our people. From professional development and internal training to mentorship and coaching. Our certified Disability Confident status has fostered an environment where all employees feel supported, valued, and can ask for workplace adjustments without fear of judgment.

Our valuable partnerships for good globally mean colleagues are always up for taking on a new charitable challenge, utilise their volunteering day and go out of their way to support their local communities.

We know how important a healthy work-life balance is too. Our flexible hours and hybrid working model means employees are expected to be in the office at least three days a week and can work remotely for the remaining two. This means we thrive together when we collaborate in person, fostering stronger connections and creativity, but still allowing for flexibility outside of those times.

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to ensuring all candidates have the same opportunity to succeed, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, or disability. In line with our dedication to fairness and transparency, we are also proud to be a We Show the Salary employer, pledging to always include pay details on our job adverts.

Join us and be part of award-winning teams and a culture that is truly unique - a place to grow, feel inspired, build a brilliant career and make a difference.