Partner - Category Intelligence and Strategy

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. 

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com. 

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com 

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values: 

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity. 
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust. 
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise. 

Mindshare delivers Good Growth for its clients. As “Growth Architects," we drive growth that benefits all stakeholders — better for people, planet, and business — by using media with intention. This approach creates more meaningful connections with consumers, increases consumer trust in the brand, and delivers better outcomes for all stakeholders.

This role reports to: Head — Strategy & Intelligence

1. Category depth with business breadth - You own one category completely - its media landscape, its competitive dynamics, its consumer and cultural context. But you never lose sight of the business. Everything connects back to growth.
2. Senior work from day one - This is a client-facing strategic leadership role. You will be in senior conversations, leading strategic recommendations and influencing how some of India's most iconic brands invest in media.
3. A strategy practice - You will be joining a team that is reimagining what media strategy looks like - integrating AI, data intelligence and cultural thinking into a practice that goes well beyond traditional media planning.

• 10–14 years of experience in media strategy, with a strong foundation of must-have 3–6 years in core media planning at a leading media agency. A solid grounding in planning mechanics - channel strategy, audience and reach thinking, platform dynamics, ROI frameworks - is essential for this role.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver senior-level strategic recommendations - to category heads, marketing directors or equivalent - with confidence and clarity.
• Strong experience working on large FMCG or consumer brand accounts, with an understanding of how brand strategy, consumer insights and media investment connect to business outcomes.
• Excellent analytical capability - ability to work across multiple data sources (media, consumer, competitive, business) and synthesise a clear and actionable point of view.
• Outstanding communication skills - able to simplify complexity, build compelling narratives and present to senior internal and external audiences.
• A proactive, independent working style - someone who brings the agenda rather than waiting for the brief.

• Postgraduate degree in Marketing, Business, Communications or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience with a demonstrated foundation in media planning and a track record of strategic leadership.
• Experience managing senior client relationships independently.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits 

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.   

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. 

• Monitoring competitive activity, consumer signals and cultural trends to identify strategic opportunities and risks for your category brands.
• Building and presenting strategic analyses and recommendations for client brand and planning reviews - connecting media thinking to business outcomes.
• Working with planning and data teams to ensure category strategy is reflected accurately in media plans and measurement frameworks.
• Scanning secondary research, social listening tools and consumer survey platforms to build and update category intelligence.
• Adding strategic nuances to CCBT, MOC and AOP discussions - developing the category point of view that shapes investment decisions.
• Collaborating with Central strategy and intelligence teams to build category-specific frameworks, tools and best practices.

• Domain expertise in one of the following categories: Beauty & Wellbeing, Home Care, Personal Care or Foods & Nutrition.
• Experience on the brand or strategy side at an FMCG or digital media/tech company.
• Familiarity with AI-powered intelligence tools, social listening platforms and emerging media research methodologies.
• Experience contributing to brand planning, AOP or marketing strategy discussions beyond the media brief.
• Working knowledge of 1PD strategy, audience intelligence frameworks and data-driven planning approaches.