New Business Director

Who We AreVML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and award-winning human-first work for clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. In 2026, VML was named Campaign’s Global Network of the Year and ranked #2 Creative Network of the Year at Cannes Lions.

VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visit and follow along on Linked In #WeAreVML.Reporting into the Chief Growth Officer of VML UK, the successful candidate will demonstrate:

Commercial Growth & New Business Leadership
• Proven track record of delivering and exceeding new business revenue, margin and pipeline targets within a communications, consulting or agency environment.
• Significant experience developing and executing new business strategies, prospecting programmes and pursuit plans that generate measurable commercial results.
• Strong commercial acumen with a deep understanding of client business challenges, marketing transformation and the evolving communications landscape.
• Experience supporting integrated opportunities across complex organisations and multidisciplinary teams, including cross-agency and cross-network pursuits.
• Ability to identify, qualify and prioritise opportunities, balancing strategic value, commercial potential and likelihood of success.

New Business Development & Pursuit Excellence
• Proven ability to take a proactive role in prospecting, including developing target account lists, identifying routes to market, crafting pursuit strategies and driving engagement programmes.
• Significant experience managing RFIs, RFPs, credentials requests, chemistry meetings and competitive pitch processes from qualification through to outcome.
• Strong understanding of consultant-led procurement processes and agency review programmes.
• Experience coordinating integrated pitch and pursuit initiatives across multiple capabilities, disciplines and partner organisations.
• Ability to maintain oversight of all live opportunities and ensure momentum, accountability and progress across the pipeline.
• Highly organised with excellent project management skills and the ability to manage multiple opportunities simultaneously without compromising quality.

Market Intelligence & Opportunity Management
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of market trends, competitive activity and emerging industry developments.
• Naturally curious and commercially minded, with the ability to identify opportunities from market signals and business change.
• Analytical and methodical in approach, using data and insight to inform decision-making and prioritisation.
• Committed to continually improving processes, ways of working and pursuit effectiveness.

Relationship Building & Influencing
• Outstanding relationship development and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to build credibility and influence with senior clients, consultants, agency leadership and WPP stakeholders.
• Strong networking, influencing and negotiation skills with the confidence to challenge constructively when required.
• Demonstrates emotional intelligence and excellent judgement when navigating complex stakeholder environments.

Marketing, Brand & Agency Profile
• Experience supporting or delivering marketing and profile- building initiatives that enhance agency visibility and supportgrowth ambitions.
• Strong understanding of brand positioning, thought leadership, events, content and PR as drivers of awareness and commercial opportunity.
• Demonstrates genuine passion for creativity, innovation and the work produced by VML.Business Development Operations & Enablement
•…