Media Contacts Ltd
Ref: 34290
Our client is a leading, integrated business-to-business (B2B) marketing communications agency. It is looking for an ambitious, successful Managing Director to take on full responsibility for the running of the agency, with the scope to lead a Management Buyout (MBO). The agency is mid-sized, with a seven-figure turnover and a track record of profitability and growth. It has an international client base, including some large, instantly recognisable accounts.
Our client is looking for a talented leader from a marketing communications or public relations (PR) background who would thrive in taking a well-run, established business and making their own mark on it.
Key responsibilities:
Strategic:
- Working with the owner to develop a business strategy
- Being involved in a high level of communication strategy
- Setting business goals
- Bringing to the senior management team’s attention any new opportunities, ideas or suggestions that will aid in progress towards the company vision
Business Management:
- Managing and leading the office, supporting the team in a number of areas
- Driving process improvement and efficiencies to ensure the continual development of operating systems and procedures
- Flagging up any inconsistencies in process or quality control
- Producing reports for Board Meetings to show progress against business objectives and other management issues
- Actively keeping abreast of current industry trends and competitor and client activity
Staff Management:
- Line management of a team
- Strong leadership and performance management ensuring account teams perform at a high level
- Supporting/providing a platform for staff to develop through training and regular communication including probationary meetings, appraisals and other performance-related meetings
- Building on existing training and development model
Client Development:
- Leading strategic and content client support
- Taking ownership of account management and development, process and quality control
- Ensuring client satisfaction hits and exceeds business targets by driving and supporting account teams to maintain high-level (exec team and above) client relationships, attending meetings where required
- Keeping abreast of client strategy and priorities to act as advisor and mentor for account teams
- Leading business development
- Building and developing lasting relationships with our existing and target clients. Ability to grow existing client accounts through client-specific business development plans. Support the joint managing directors with targeting and securing new clients
- Full responsibility for hitting business development targets with client portfolios
- Actively seeking new connections with key clients and attending client functions/events to network
- Working with visual content director and agency directors to support marketing and new business campaigns
- Attending new business meetings – with the responsibility to lead new pitches and allocate resources for pitches and new business wins
The ideal candidate should have demonstrable experience of:
- Significant communications and management in a B2B agency environment
- Large international budget management
- Content development and how to bring alive messaging
- Communicating strategy
- Strategic business planning and goal setting
- Operating at a senior level (e.g. MD, client services director, business unit director)
- Line management of teams, including performance management
- High-level reporting
- Driving change
- Resource allocation and planning
- Financial reporting and forecasting
- Winning new business and delivering organic growth
They should also possess the following attributes:
- Outstanding interpersonal skills – excellent presenter and confident at communicating at a senior level (Exec/board) including facilitation
- Excellent networking and relationship-building abilities
- Good stress management
- Autonomous – taking ownership and responsibility
- Strategic thinking – the ability to rise above, read the market and anticipate change
- Leadership – leading by example, establishing trust and respect
- Gravitas
In return, our client offers a six-figure package, profit-related bonus, contributory pension and the opportunity to take ownership of an established, thriving agency.