Nestle Category Lead

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.

The Category Lead is an experienced media expert as part of ZEUR Above Zone team, responsible for owning relationships with the Nestle Category team, providing thought leadership and strategic guidance to effectively leverage experience, knowledge/skills to push innovative thinking and set challenging team goals and objectives balancing client, company and team needs. This role will be the most senior point of contact for ZEUR, working directly with senior Category clients at Nestlé and consistently meeting with OpenMind leadership in Above Market Zone and Cluster and market teams.

This role will be a key enabler and accelerator of integrating Category strategy into local media plans, strategizing media investment allocation across markets and brands, increasing Category visibility into planning, performance, competition and ensuring in-market consistency. The role is supported by a team of specialists (Above Market, Cluster), OpenMind leadership, and other Category leadership to draw from for inspiration and support.

• Support implementation of "fewer, bigger, better" strategy through Category holistic media strategy and measurement (including Retail Digital Media & Search), strategizing media investment allocation across the Category portfolio, markets and brands.
• Build strong, long-lasting relationships with Senior category clients by understanding their business objectives, needs, and challenges.
• Critical relationship owner for in-market teams, driving Zone leadership initiatives across the OpenMind network.
• Establish above-market strategic communication principles and detailed guidelines for local adaptation.
• Support Category strategy lead in Planning and recommending Category, portfolio and key campaigns media investments across markets in collaboration with Nestle Category Media and Marketing Leadership Teams.
• Ongoing, regular connection to key markets (by size/impact priority) to ensure media strategic responses are followed.
• Ownership for OpenMind delivery of Zone lead strategic projects, including regular market meetings and updates.
• Regular updates on strategic programs to be delivered to the Zone XXX leadership team as agreed.
• Own QBR & bi-annual Top to Top Sessions to review quarterly strategic performance, key findings, challenges & future plans work completed and future strategy and next steps at category level.
• Provide Category brand teams regular updates about media landscape changes, media forecasts as well as spend overview across category.
• Provide guidance and framework on measurement approaches and new pilots.
• Establish regular touchpoints with Market Clusters & top markets to understand implementation learnings & challenges as well as significant market dynamics.

• Deep knowledge of CPG consumer trends and media landscape.
• Sufficient knowledge of Category and regional market landscape [e.g. consumer, publisher, regulatory] and in selected specialist capabilities (e.g. Search, Programmatic, Retail Digital Media).
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and managerial skills that will help the agency team see and maneuver through capacity issues.
• Proven track record of successfully managing client relationships and media campaigns.
• Ability to think strategically about media in the context of business performance.
• Ability to influence without authority.
• Persuasive skills and successful operations approach to a highly matrixed organization.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics.