Business Director - Corporate PR

Ogilvy, part of WPP, has been creating impact for brands through iconic, culture-changing, value-driving ideas since the company was founded by David Ogilvy 75 years ago. It builds on that rich legacy through Borderless Creativity – innovating at the intersections of its advertising, public relations, relationship design, consulting, and health capabilities with experts collaborating seamlessly across over 120 offices in nearly 90 countries. Ogilvy currently ranks as the #1 global agency network for creative excellence and effectiveness by WARC, signifying its ability to deliver creative solutions that drive unreasonable impact for clients and communities. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NYSE: WPP). For more information, visit Ogilvy.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

Business Director (Associate Director)
Corporate PR 
 

Department:  PR, Social & Influence
Team within Department: Brand Reputation & Corporate PR
Location: London 
Contract type:  Fixed-term (12 months Maternity Cover)
Full Time/Part time:  Full time
Reporting into:  Client Partner (Director), Brand Reputation & Corporate PR 

About Ogilvy:   

Ogilvy UK has been creating iconic ideas that deliver impact at scale for clients ever since David Ogilvy founded the company in 1948. Ogilvy UK specialises in bringing together brand advertising, customer experience marketing, PR, influence and consulting, all fuelled by Behavioural Science. Our world-class award-winning creative campaigns deliver solutions for clients including Sainsbury’s, Argos, Mondelēz International, Unilever, TK Maxx and Pernod Ricard.   

In 2023, Ogilvy UK celebrated their 75th anniversary and was the most awarded agency in Europe. Ogilvy is home to the largest influencer marketing practice globally and hosts the world’s biggest festival of behavioural science and creativity, Nudgestock – now in its 12th year.  

The Role:  

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Business Director to join our thriving Brand Reputation team, which is part of the PR, Social & Influence division of Ogilvy. This leadership role offers an exciting opportunity to spearhead large-scale projects, drive significant growth, and cultivate strong client partnerships. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of corporate communications, reputation management, a passion for impactful communication, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment.  

The role will have three parts: 

1. Lead a portfolio of accounts, managing several team members to deliver excellent work. 

1. Sit on the management team of the bigger Brand Reputation & Corporate PR team, helping to deliver our plan. 

1. Lead or manage new projects of various types including risk management, responsible marketing, executive visibility, and pitches and proposals. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain trusted partnerships with mid-level and senior clients, acting as a strategic advisor and providing valuable insights aligned with their business objectives. Deeply understand client needs, anticipating challenges and opportunities. 

• Responsibility Proposition Leadership: Drive the agency's responsibility proposition, empowering clients to proactively address and navigate societal, environmental, and policy regulations and restrictions. Collaborate across the PR and Influence division and the broader agency to integrate this proposition into client strategies and offerings. 

• Strategic Accumen: Interrogating briefs through a responsibility lens and providing counsel to internal client teams on how to strengthen campaigns and mitigate against any reputational issues. Ability to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into client strategies 

• Thought Leadership & Innovation: Stay ahead of industry trends, identifying emerging opportunities and adapting strategies accordingly. Contribute to the development of innovative PR approaches and thought leadership initiatives. 

• Project Leadership: Lead and oversee large, complex projects, ensuring high-quality deliverables are produced on time and within budget. This includes resource allocation, risk management, and progress tracking. 

• New Business Development: Lead new business initiatives, identifying and pursuing opportunities to expand the client portfolio and grow revenue. This includes developing proposals, pitching to prospective clients, and negotiating contracts. 

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, inspire, and motivate a team of PR professionals, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. 

• Financial Management: Contribute to the financial success of the team by managing budgets, tracking project profitability, and identifying opportunities for cost optimization. 

Role Requirements: 

• Proven Leadership Experience: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams to achieve exceptional results, fostering a positive and productive work environment. 

• Client Relationship Management Expertise: Strong client relationship management skills, with the ability to build and maintain trusted partnerships at senior levels. 

• Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen: Deep understanding of client business objectives and aspirations, providing strategic insights and guidance. Ability to think beyond short-term goals and take a holistic view of projects and activities. 

• Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and address challenges effectively. 

• Growth & Delivery Focus: A track record of successfully driving growth and delivering high-quality work on large and complex projects, within budget and deadlines. 

• Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to inspire and motivate teams and effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and departments. 

Desired Skills and Experiences: 

• 10+ years of experience in public relations or a related field, with a proven track record of success in a leadership role. 

• Experience working with a variety of types of clients. 

• Strong capabilities in navigating fast-changing buiness landscapes and providing ad-hoc strategic counsel. 

• Experience with crisis communications and reputation management. 

• Proficiency in PR measurement and reporting tools. 

• Understanding and proficient application of AI in your work, and ability to advise clients how it can be used in their own workflows.  

How we help you Thrive:  

•  25 days annual leave + 1 Volunteer Day   

• Bupa Healthcare  

• Enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave  

• We have a Flexible Working Model with core working hours: 10am – 4pm  

• A 1.5:1 Matching Pension Structure  

• Wellbeing and Health: Up to £25.00 per month towards physical or online exercise class membership, Unmind membership, LifeWorks tool and annual eye tests and development budgets and Wellbeing incentives and activities throughout the year   

• Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme  
• Life Assurance