Global Business Director

BRAND: Starcom
Job Function: Client Management
Location: London, United Kingdom
Experience Level: Management
Workplace Type: Hybrid

Company description

With a history that dates back over 80 years, Starcom is a global communications planning and media leader. We are an agency still grounded in our founding principle that people are at the centre of all we do. Each day, we apply this belief to harness the transformative power of data and technology to inspire and move people and business forward. With more than 7,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we are the flagship Publicis Media agency that uses our 'Power of One' business model, with teams that span multiple disciplines across clients such as Aldi, P&G, Primark, Samsung, Stellantis, and Visa.

We place a huge focus on our People, and have driven flagship D&I and L&D programmes within Publicis Media; our goal is to help every individual reach their fullest potential, and we encourage everyone to make "Brave Plays" in how they approach their work and their own career development. As a result, we have an exceptionally energised and committed talent base, all of us proud of our welcoming and supportive culture, as evidenced by our recognition as one of Campaign's Best Places to Work for five years in a row, Media Week's Agency of the Year 2025 and one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025.

Overview

What will you be doing?

The Regional Market Lead serves as the senior client and market partner across the Europe region, responsible for driving strategic alignment, operational excellence, and business growth across 8-10 priority and expansion markets. This role acts as the primary bridge between client regional stakeholders, local market teams, and Publicis capabilities, ensuring consistent delivery against business objectives, media KPIs, commercial commitments, and transformation priorities.

The role requires strong client leadership, cross-market coordination, commercial acumen, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across multiple countries, functions, and agency disciplines.

Responsibilities

Client & Market Leadership

Act as the senior regional lead for the account, building strong stakeholder relationships and driving alignment across multiple markets. Ensures consistent delivery of business objectives, KPIs, and planning standards, while representing Publicis in senior forums and decision-making environments.

Planning & Operational Excellence

Lead structured, consistent planning across markets by guiding annual cycles and embedding best practices, tools, and frameworks. Provides oversight and support to resolve complex operational or strategic challenges.

Commercial Management & Growth

Manage regional commercial performance, including resourcing, scope, and agreements. Works closely with finance partners to deliver profitability and value targets, while identifying opportunities to grow capabilities and expand into new markets.

Performance & Transformation

Drive transformation across the region through initiatives such as AI adoption, automation, and innovation programmes. Ensures markets deliver against performance targets, including mROI, while continuously improving ways of working.

Cross-Functional & Team Leadership

Brings together diverse teams and capabilities to deliver integrated solutions. Build team capability through coaching and development, while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing culture.

Governance & Reporting

Oversee regional governance frameworks, leading business reviews and executive reporting. Tracks and ensures performance against KPIs, contractual commitments, and strategic priorities.

Qualifications

What are we looking for?

• Solid experience in media, marketing, agency, or client leadership roles
• Proven success managing multinational clients and complex matrix organizations
• Strong understanding of media planning, investment, measurement, and marketing effectiveness
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders, lead cross-functional teams, and drive organizational change
• Experience managing commercial agreements, staffing models, and business planning processes
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills
• Experience working across multiple European or global markets preferred

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Additional information

Starcom offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees. Full details are shared when you join, but highlights include core benefits such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave. You'll also have access to a range of additional initiatives, including:

Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG's (Employee Action Groups).

Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients' office four days per week.

At Starcom , we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.

We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs - for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know. We'll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application.

Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.