Managing Partner, Client Leadership

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world‑class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. WPP Media is WPP's AI‑driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

Role Summary and Impact

Are you passionate about clients and their business, leading teams to create unrivalled work that grows our client’s business and builds long‑term relationships with them? Wavemaker UK is looking for an ambitious Managing Partner to join our Client Leadership Community – the voice of our clients in the agency. As the voice of the client across the agency, we’re focused on ensuring our clients have their best agency experience during their time with Wavemaker. We’re looking for someone who can inspire clients and teams to create unrivalled work, help define the ways of working across the agency that deliver the best client experiences, and in turn grow our relationships with existing and potential new clients.

In This Role, You Will

• Be responsible for the output delivered to the client across all contact points.
• Have a deep understanding of all elements of a client’s business, the category and industry in which they operate and use this knowledge to help deliver the client vision for growth.
• Work with all specialists to connect with stakeholders across the client’s business, who may sit outside of your day‑to‑day team.
• Understand where the client sits in the client lifecycle and develop a plan for appropriate connection and contacts across the agency outside of the day‑to‑day.

Drive Vision Collaboration and Alignment

• Engage and motivate a broad set of stakeholders across the agency, client and industry to deliver the client vision.
• Work with specialist teams to build client roadmaps in areas outside of media comms such as data, digital, effectiveness.
• Have a deep understanding of the client lifecycle – and anticipate client needs appropriate to that relationship stage.

Recognise and Convert Opportunities

• Identify opportunities for growth outside of the core day‑to‑day connections with the client.
• Explore and implement new commercial model and product opportunities to drive revenue growth.
• Identify gaps within the Wavemaker offer that can support client and agency growth through product development.

Commercial and Operational Excellence

• Understand client profitability requirements and manage this with clients and with the team, building new team structures with the commercial team as required.
• Work with the matrix to resolve any operational issues and redesign processes as necessary.
• Work with Lead to ensure accurate forecasting of current and growth opportunities is reported.

Lead New Business

• Take lead role on mid‑size pitches, nurturing and developing the team, and ensuring the best of Wavemaker is delivered.
• Proactively seek out new business opportunities through personal and industry contacts.

Skills and Experience

At Managing Partner level, you are expected to operate within the ‘Advanced’ and ‘Expert’ criteria. In summary, the core skills required include:

• Client Leadership experience – You have an advanced understanding of how an agency operates, its positioning, and product offerings, alongside an advanced understanding of the broader group offering and specific businesses within it and how they can benefit your client’s business. You will also have a deep understanding of your client’s business and category beyond marketing, sharing that passion across the agency while nurturing others to build their knowledge to the same level.
• Problem solving – You will have an ability to solve problems and utilise data and insight effectively. You ensure any problem solving is mutually beneficial to all parties and can act independently, engaging key stakeholders across the agency accordingly.
• Building and maintaining stakeholder relationships – You will be a trusted adviser for senior marketers within client organisations, understand how and when to engage core specialisms across Wavemaker, collaborate more widely with partner agencies and industry partners. You have an ability to advise senior clients, navigate them through complex business challenges, and when necessary, transform strained or tricky relationships.
• Effective communication – You will be a credible and engaging speaker internally and externally, have an ability to deliver information and opinions succinctly to garner support, consider, and be sympathetic, to the views of those around you. You understand the best data and information to share, when, and in formats that work for the varying requirements of our clients’ businesses.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to Be Extraordinary, investing in our employees to inspire transformational creativity. We also Lead Optimistically, firmly believing in and Championing Growth and Development for every individual. This commitment allows WPP Media employees to leverage the extensive global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, build vital professional connections, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We Create an Open environment built on trust and respect, where everyone feels they belong and has opportunities to progress. This inclusive culture is fostered through a variety of employee resource groups and frequent in‑office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects this commitment, including competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection in this open and supportive environment. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location.