Regional Account Lead, Emerging Markets, London

EssenceMediacom is GroupM’s newest and largest agency, committed to delivering marketing breakthroughs for brands. It has disrupted the old models across media, creative, innovation and analytics to find new opportunities for advertisers and deliver truly integrated media solutions.

Born out of two pioneering agencies, EssenceMediacom fuses Essence’s performance, data, analytics, and creative technology DNA with MediaCom’s scaled multichannel audience planning and strategic media expertise.

As part of WPP, the world's largest marketing communications services group, and GroupM, WPP’s consolidated media investment management arm, we have access to the richest data, most robust benchmarks, and most advanced capabilities in the market. This helps us provide comprehensive solutions to all marketing challenges.

Our ‘breakthrough’ ambition is underpinned by our commitment to ‘continuous learning.’ We aim to ensure our people fulfil their potential by investing in their whole-person wellbeing, careers, and capabilities, which in turn helps grow our clients’ businesses.

EssenceMediacom, with 10,000 people across 120 offices in 96 markets, is one of the world’s leading communications specialists, with billings of more than US$21 billion (Source: COMvergence, 2021). Its global client roster includes adidas, Coca-Cola (TCCC), Dell, Google, Hasbro, Mars, NBC Universal, P&G, Richemont, Shell, Sony, and Uber.

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The role

This high-profile role is to lead the adidas Emerging Markets regional team based in London, directing media strategy, planning, implementation, and measurement for both Brand and Performance (D2C) media, plus managing our 28 markets organised in seven clusters (Pacific, Southeast Asia, India, Middle East, Turkey, Israel, South Africa). 

This is a pivotal role with overall accountability for the performance and growth of the Emerging Markets adidas business. Critical to success will be the ability to set the business and strategic agenda with experienced, energetic and ambitious media clients (based in Dubai, Cape Town and Delhi), capability to engage in brand and performance media thinking and skills in managing a direct team of 12 and influencing the set of leaders in the clusters. 

We are always looking to elevate our game and find better ways of doing things, constantly reimagining how adidas connects via media and tech. If this sounds inspiring, you may well be one of us

What we think are 3 best things about the job…

• You’ll work on adidas, a fantastic iconic brand which is aiming to elevate media and comms across brand and performance to the next level, supporting ambitious growth targets across the region.

• The Emerging Markets Hub team is led out of London and you’ll be in close contact and exchange with great colleagues working for adidas worldwide and adidas Europe. 

• You’ll get to know about many different markets, their culture and their business ambitions to create growth!

Accountabilities include:

Strong client leadership and overall team orchestration 

- execute the full regional agenda for media and deliver regional ambitions for growth, including managing a substantial team based in London and building relationships with market leads across within the emerging markets region.

End-to-End Strategy & Planning 

establishing a close partnership with  regional brand media and performance leads at adidas across the end-to-end process, from strategy to optimisation. Being a close partner with clients who are responsible for setting the brand media framework to build distinctiveness and momentum around adidas’ ambition to be a “Consistent Icon”.

Identifying and executing innovation and “BREAKTHROUGH ideas” 

adidas has a history of driving consumer excitement and engagement through industry leading media creativity. The regional leader will be a key driver and champion of creativity and innovation across markets.

“Full Funnel” Planning 

working with clients and internal teams to manage decisions about allocation and execution across the “Funnel”, including the balance between upper funnel (brand) and lower funnel (commerce) investment.

Driving best in class measurement and reporting/ analysis

adidas is committed to data-driven planning for both brand and performance media. You will work with a measurement leader to help adidas excel in this.

In this role, you will: 

• Have overall regional leadership, directly lead a team of 12 and remotely influence a team across 7 different clusters
• Lead regional E2E Strategy and Planning, aligned to global adidas strategy and taking local nuance into account
• Inspire and orchestrate important client presentations and strategic workstreams
• Improve process & workflow across the region
• Be a commercial and strategy escalation point
• Be the key point of contact for Emerging Market Leadership at adidas
• Develop & improve relationships with senior clients

Who are you / Key skills and experience

Strong Client and Team Leadership skills

• Strong client leadership skills, ideally multi-market
• Proven leader, ability to navigate complex organisations and teams, driven and action oriented. A team player who is looking to win together, work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset across the network
• A trusted partner

Strategic Management

• Built market or regional strategic growth plans for major global advertisers. Business Partnering with driven senior clients
• Hold the position of trusted business partner and advocate to the client, providing advice and guidance. 

Experienced Communication Planner

• Proven communication planning skills, setting direction for the development of media strategies & plans.
• Ability to adapt thinking to the Sportswear and Leisurewear categories, media behaviours, and landscape.
• Knowledge of and comfort in “Full funnel” media planning.

Persuasive Communicator

• You have excellent communication skills, the ability to build strong relationships with clients and network, strong at presenting and in meaningful discussions with the client.

Analysis and Insight

• To guide and lead adidas by providing business-relevant insights that assist in improving performance and client satisfaction.

Ownership

• Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.

High energy and driven

• Committed and passionate about what you do!
• Striving to work on industry-leading campaigns and run a high-performing team

Sports, sports, sports + Youth Culture

• You have an affinity for sports and understand youth culture!