Account Director

Working within Automotive Brands

This role sits within Haymarket's specialist Automotive division, championing the dual-brand powerhouse of "What Car?" and "Autocar". What Car? serves as the ultimate, data-driven consumer champion and purchase-funnel tool, while Autocar stands as the definitive authority on automotive passion, deep-dive reviews, and industry insight. Together, they deliver market-leading branded experiences, cross-platform media solutions, and lead-generation tools that shape consumer decisions and drive commercial growth for automotive and media agency partners.

The primary purpose of the Account Director is to act as the commercial and strategic lead for key media agencies, serving as the senior point of contact for independent and network partners. In this role, you will nurture strategic agency relationships and translate client marketing objectives into high-impact cross-platform campaigns. By driving multi-channel content partnerships, native advertising, and programmatic data solutions, you add direct value to agency clients while consistently accelerating revenue growth across both iconic automotive titles.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Relationship Management:
  Serve as the primary, senior point of contact for key independent and network media agencies, establishing best-in-class relationships.
• Consultative Selling:
  Interrogate client briefs to develop innovative, multi-channel content partnerships, native advertising, and programmatic data solutions.
• Commercial Growth:
  Identify opportunities to upsell and cross-sell integrated campaigns across both digital, print, data, lead generation, and podcast sponsor ships.
• Pitch Leadership:
  Lead high-level commercial pitches, working closely with ad operations, creative studio, and data teams to build winning, unified proposals.
• Cross-Department
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Oversee the delivery of complex content partnerships by liaising with Project Managers, Editorial Leads, Video Production, and Ad Operations.
• Performance Optimisation:
  Monitor account performance and track campaigns against client KPIs using first-party data and analytics, providing clients with actionable, valuable commercial insights.
• Market Position Advancement:
  Increase the speed of going to market for new products, approaches, and brand opportunities across agency teams.

Works closely with Media Agencies, Ad Operations, Creative Studio, Data Teams, Project Managers, and Editorial Leads to build effective working relationships, share knowledge, provide support, and contribute to the successful delivery of business objectives.

• Comprehensive knowledge of the media, publishing, or agency ecosystem.
• Strong understanding of commercial sales principles, consultative selling, and customer relationship management.
• Advanced knowledge of digital media channels, including digital display, programmatic advertising, and content partnerships.
• Understanding of dual-brand synergy and positioning distinct audience demographics (e.g., consumer purchase-funnel vs. enthusiast insight).

• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills, with the gravitas to influence C-suite marketing directors.
• Ability to interpret complex data, Google Analytics, and lead-generation statistics to produce meaningful insights and compelling commercial narratives.
• Strong presentation and pitch-leading capabilities.
• Effective stakeholder management and collaboration across multiple internal operational and creative teams.

• Relevant experience as an Account Director (or Senior Account Manager ready to step up) within a media agency, creative agency, or media publisher.
• Extensive experience in managing, growing, and nurturing senior strategic customer or client relationships.
• Confident in delivering complex multi-channel commercial, media, or marketing projects.
• Proven experience working within a fast-paced, target-driven environment.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams to build integrated, winning business proposals.

• Results driven:
  Focused on hitting and exceeding milestones and driving brand portfolio growth.
• Collaborative:
  Thrives when working alongside ad ops, creative studio, and production teams to achieve success.
• Customer focused:
  Dedicated to deeply understanding client briefs and maximizing return on investment for agency partners.
• Accountable:
  Takes ownership of revenue targets, strategic…