Business Director

Business Director - Commerce & Shopper Marketing Studio - Central London (Hybrid)

Are you an experienced Business Director or Group Account Director looking for the opportunity to genuinely influence the growth of an ambitious independent agency?
DNA Recruit are working with a fast-growing, highly profitable specialist commerce studio that partners with ambitious brands to deliver commercially impactful shopper, retail and commerce solutions.
From omnichannel shopper toolkits and display design to category visions, e-commerce, retail media, channel strategies and campaign development, the studio works at the point where brands, shoppers and commerce meet.
 
About the Role
This is a senior, high-impact role combining client leadership, team management, commercial growth and new business.
You'll take a senior lead across key client relationships, support and develop the account-management team, and work closely with the founders and leadership team to identify opportunities that can accelerate the agency's growth.
This isn't a role where you'll simply inherit a portfolio and manage the status quo. You'll have the opportunity to shape the business, influence its proposition, open doors to new clients and help build the next phase of an entrepreneurial agency.
 
Key Responsibilities
Client Leadership

• Lead and develop senior relationships across key clients.
• Act as a trusted strategic and commercial partner.
• Oversee the delivery of high-quality work across multiple projects and accounts.
• Identify opportunities to broaden and grow existing client relationships.
• Ensure client expectations, commercial objectives and agency capabilities remain aligned.
• Bring a strong understanding of brands, shoppers, retail and the wider marketing landscape.

Team Leadership

• Provide senior leadership and direction to the account-management team.
• Mentor and develop Account Managers and Senior Account Managers.
• Introduce greater structure and processes as the business continues to grow.
• Act as a senior escalation point for client and project challenges.
• Help build a collaborative, high-performance culture.

Business Development & Growth

• Identify and pursue organic growth opportunities across existing accounts.
• Contribute to and lead new-business opportunities.
• Develop and leverage a strong network of industry contacts.
• Open doors to prospective clients and new commercial opportunities.
• Bring a commercially minded approach to agency growth.
• Use an existing network or book of business to accelerate growth where possible.

Agency Development

• Work closely with the founders and senior leadership team on the continued growth of the business.
• Help shape the agency's proposition, client offering and commercial strategy.
• Bring new ideas, experience and perspective from across the agency landscape.
• Contribute to the agency's reputation within the commerce and shopper marketing sector.
• Help the business scale sustainably while retaining its entrepreneurial culture.

 
 
Skills & Experience Required
We're looking for an experienced Business Director, Group Account Director or equivalent senior client-services professional who is ready to make a genuine impact within a growing independent studio.
You'll ideally have:

• Strong senior agency/client-services experience.
• Proven experience leading and developing account teams.
• A track record of building strong, long-term client relationships.
• Experience growing existing accounts and identifying commercial opportunities.
• Strong new-business and business-development capability.
• Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
• A commercially driven approach to client management.
• The confidence to operate at both strategic and operational levels.
• A strong understanding of the agency/client relationship.
• Experience across shopper marketing, commerce, retail, activation, experiential or integrated agencies would be particularly relevant, although candidates from other agency backgrounds will also be considered.
• An existing book of business or strong industry network would be highly advantageous, but isn't essential.

 
For the right person, there may also be scope to explore advisory, partnership or wider commercial opportunities.
 
Salary: £65,000–£90,000, depending on experience and commercial value.
Location: Central London, Hybrid working – 3 days per week in the studio.
Reference: AW 12152

DNA is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Although we try to respond to all applications, unfortunately, due to the high number we receive, we are unable to respond to all of those who are unsuccessful. 

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DNA Recruit deliver dynamic recruitment, search and talent solutions and provide insight, knowledge, and credible introductions necessary for client-side and agency roles. Areas we specialise in New Business, Account and Project Management, Strategy and Planning, Events, Experiential, Creative and User Experience Design, Technology, Product, Marketing and Data roles in permanent, contract and freelance recruitment, search and selection, talent advisory and consulting across the UK and globally.