Director of Business Development

Director of Business Development

Department: Client Role

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London, UK

We are currently representing a leading global Financial Services firm in the appointment of high-calibre professionals as part of a period of strategic growth and investment.

Our client operates at the intersection of corporate, fiduciary and regulatory services, partnering with private equity houses, investment managers and international financial institutions. Backed by long-term institutional investment and an established global brand, the firm is scaling its capabilities, technology and international footprint.

This is an opportunity to join a business that combines the agility of a growth platform with the credibility, client base and governance of a market leader.

The Director of Business Development will lead the global business development strategy to drive sustainable revenue growth and market expansion. Reporting to the CEO, the role is accountable for building high-value client and intermediary relationships, strengthening pipeline health and conversion, and delivering impactful go-to-market initiatives across regions and service lines.

• Define and execute a global business development strategy aligned to business objectives, growth plans and service line priorities.
• Lead market development initiatives, including account segmentation, cross-sell strategies, intermediary network growth and entry into new markets and sectors.
• Own senior-level client and intermediary relationships, acting as executive sponsor for priority and strategic accounts.
• Drive pursuit excellence across bids and proposals, including governance, commercial negotiation and win/loss analysis.
• Set and manage revenue targets, forecasts, and pipeline performance, using data, KPIs and CRM insights to optimise conversion and velocity.
• Partner with Finance, Marketing and service line leaders to align pricing, campaigns, brand positioning, and demand-generation activity.
• Represent the business externally through industry events, thought leadership and strategic partnerships.
• Lead and develop business development and CRM teams, embedding best practice, high-performance culture and ethical selling standards.
• Champion the effective use of data, CRM and BD technology to improve insight, productivity and decision-making.

• Degree qualified (or equivalent), with circa 15 years’ experience in business development, sales leadership, or commercial strategy and comfortable with global travel.
• Proven global business development leader with a track record of defining and executing growth and market expansion strategies within professional services.
• Extensive experience closing complex, high-value, multi-country and multi-service deals, including negotiation of sophisticated commercial and contractual arrangements.
• Demonstrated success in leading and growing strategic global accounts, with strong capability in account planning and cross-sell initiatives.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including pricing strategies, profitability models, contract structures and margin management.
• Highly experienced operating within matrix, global organisations, with a proven ability to build, scale and develop BD teams across regions and cultures.
• Data-driven and digitally fluent, with hands-on expertise in CRM-led sales management, pipeline analytics and familiarity with marketing automation and ABM tools.
• Deep understanding of professional services business models and client behaviour, particularly within financial services, asset management and related sectors.
• Global mindset with the ability to operate effectively across diverse cultures, regulatory environments and international markets.
• Credible senior-level communicator with experience of engaging Boards and C-suite stakeholders and representing the business through thought leadership and industry events.