Strategy Director

VML, part of WPP, 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 human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization.

In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About WPP

Weareseekinganexceptional Strategy Director to leadintegratedstrategicplanning forour

Tier 1 (National/Brand),Tier 2 (Regional), and Tier 3 (Dealership/Retail) automotive client portfolio.

The automotiveretailecosystemisundergoinga massive transformation—drivenby EV adoption, direct-to-consumermodels, digitalretailingplatforms, andevolvingmobilityhabits. Inthisrole,youwilllead thestrategicvisionthatconnectshigh-impact brandcampaignstoretailpoint-of-saleenvironments(bothdigital and in-dealership). Youwillpartnercloselywithcreative, digital, media, andtechnologyleadership tocreateseamless, high-convertingcustomerjourneysfromupper-funnelbrandconsiderationdown to showroomvisitsandvehicledelivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect end-to-endcustomerjourneystrategiesacross
  
  Tier 1 (Brand Awareness), Tier 2 (Regional Associations), and Tier 3 (Retail/Dealership) touchpoints.
• Deeplyunderstandthe automotivepath-to-purchase—fromonlineresearch, configuration, and digitalfinancingto test drives, showroom activations, and post-purchaseloyalty/service.
• Developinnovativestrategiesfor digital automotiveretailing,virtualshowrooms, EV conversionjourneys,connectedcarexperiences, and dealer networkenablement.
• Translatecomplexautomotive sales data, localmarketnuances, and Tier 3promotionalrequirementsintoactionablestrategicframeworks.

• Leadintegratedcampaignplanning,ensuringbrand storytelling, digitalproductexperiences, performance marketing, CRM, anddealershipactivationsworkincompletealignment.
• Craftinspiringcreativebriefs andstrategicplatformsthatelevatecreativeoutputacrossmass media, social, digital,experiential, and point-of-sale channels.
• Uncoverdeepconsumer,owner, andshopperinsightsusingquantitative data, qualitativeresearch, and automotiveresearchtools(e.g., Cox Automotive, J.D. Power, IHSMarkit/S&P Global).

• Serve as the seniorstrategiclead andtrustedadvisorto C-suite, CMO, andretailmarketing leads on key automotiveaccounts.
• Deliverpersuasive,highlyarticulatepresentationsthatmapcreativeconceptsdirectlyto commercial performance metrics(e.g., leads, configurationcompletes, test drives, dealer foot traffic, sales volume).
• Trackemergingautomotive trends—EV transitions,subscriptionmodels,connectedvehicles, andchangingmobilitypreferences—tokeepclientsaheadofindustryshifts.

• Establishholisticattribution andmeasurementframeworkslinkingcreativeperformance and media mix to sales conversions and dealer leads.
• Leadstrategicefforts on new business pitcheswithinthemobility, automotive, andretailtechnologysectors.
• Mentor andmanagejunior tomid-levelstrategists, buildingteamcapabilityinretaildataanalysis, briefwriting, and consumer insight generation.

• Experience: 8–12+yearsofstrategicplanningexperiencewithinanagencyor brandstrategysetting,with directexperienceleadingautomotiveaccounts .
• Automotive Retail Knowledge : Proventrackrecordwithautomotive clientstrategyacross
  
  Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3campaigns,includingdeepfamiliaritywithdealershipnetworks, dealerco-opprograms, and automotive e-commerce tools.
• Integrated Expertise: Extensiveexperiencedesigning
  360°integ…