CEO, Burson Hong Kong
Burson · Hong Kong
Who we are:
Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.
WPP (LSE/NYSE: 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
For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
The Role
Burson is appointing a CEO for Hong Kong. This is a critical leadership role with full accountability for commercial performance, client outcomes, culture and reputation in-market. The CEO will be expected to drive sustainable revenue growth, strengthen client partnerships, and foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and high performance. The role will be central to the retention and creation of critical commercial client opportunities, and to building strong relationships across the wider Burson and WPP network.
The CEO will be a compelling and authentic people leader. We believe the quality of our work and client relationships depends on attracting, developing and retaining the best talent. A core priority for this role will be to build a strong leadership team, embed a One Burson culture, and position Burson as an employer of choice in Hong Kong.
You will be a visible market leader: a trusted adviser to senior clients, a connector across the Burson and WPP network, and a high-integrity leader who builds confidence through clarity, pace and consistent delivery.
Key accountabilities:
Commercial Leadership and Strategic growth
- Own the revenue growth strategy for Burson Hong Kong, with clear accountability for new business, organic growth, and profitability.
- Identify, pursue, and convert significant new business opportunities across existing and prospective clients.
- Strengthen Burson’s market presence through active business development, senior client engagement, and market positioning.
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of opportunities across priority sectors and offerings.
- Work closely with the regional growth lead and client teams to identify expansion opportunities, increase wallet share, and improve retention.
- Lead or support high-value pitches, commercial conversations, and strategic growth initiatives.
- Ensure the market delivers against revenue targets, forecast commitments, and margin expectations.
Team Leadership and Management
- Lead, coach, and develop the Hong Kong leadership team and broader agency talent.
- Build a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and excellence.
- Set clear expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and ensure strong performance management across the business.
- Support succession planning, capability building, and leadership development across the market.
- Foster an environment that attracts, retains, and develops outstanding talent.
- Ensure teams are aligned, motivated, and equipped to deliver outstanding client work and commercial outcomes.
- Role-model Burson’s values and leadership behaviors in all internal and external engagements.
Client Leadership and Strategic Counsel
- Serve as a senior advisor to key clients, delivering trusted counsel and strong executive presence.
- Build and maintain senior-level relationships with clients, prospects, partners, and other key stakeholders.
- Ensure Burson Hong Kong is seen as a strategic, trusted, and indispensable partner to clients.
- Oversee the quality, consistency, and impact of client delivery across the business.
- Help shape integrated, insight-led communications strategies that drive client outcomes and business growth.
- Work with teams to elevate Burson’s reputation for modern communications, creativity, and measurable impact.
Market Profile and Reputation
- Build Burson’s profile in Hong Kong as a leading communications consultancy and employer of choice.
- Represent the agency externally at industry, client, and market-facing events and forums.
- Strengthen the agency’s visibility across key sectors, media, business communities, and talent networks.
- Actively position Burson as a market leader in strategic communications, reputation management, and integrated advisory services.
- Ensure the agency’s market voice reflects Burson’s global ambition, local relevance, and commercial strength.
Financial and Operational Stewardship
- Own the financial health of the Hong Kong market, including revenue, profitability, forecasting, and cost management.
- Monitor performance regularly and take action to address risks, underperformance, or emerging issues.
- Ensure the business operates efficiently and in line with agreed budgets, staffing levels, and financial targets.
- Partner with finance and operational stakeholders to maintain strong business discipline and visibility.
- Ensure compliance with Burson, WPP, and local policies and standards.
- Contribute to planning and decision-making that supports sustainable, profitable growth.
Collaboration and Partnership
- Work closely with regional and global Burson leadership to align the Hong Kong market with broader business priorities.
- Partner with colleagues across Burson and WPP to unlock opportunities, share capability, and deliver added value to clients.
- Build strong internal relationships to support cross-market collaboration and business development.
- Contribute to the ongoing evolution of Burson’s offer, operating model, and market proposition.
Experience & capabilities
- Senior leadership (25+years) experience in communications, advisory, professional services, agency or comparable client-facing environments.
- Proven P&L leadership with a track record of profitable growth (revenue, margin, forecasting, cost management).
- Demonstrated success leading integration, transformation or organisational change.
- Deep understanding of the Hong Kong market and client landscape.
- Strong commercial acumen, including financial management and profitability oversight.
- Trusted senior client counsel and the ability to influence at board and C-suite level.
- Excellent relationship-building, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- A strategic mindset with the ability to translate vision into action and results.
- A recognized leader who attracts talent, develops leaders and builds high-performance culture.
Key Success Measures
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Achieving Year-on-Year Revenue growth and profitability improvement of the Hong Kong market.
- Securing New business wins and expansion of existing client relationships as Organic growth.
- Overall Billability Rate at least 40%, with stretch goal of 45% to 50%.
- Client satisfaction, retention, and quality of strategic counsel measured via “Vantage”.
- Strengthening and stability of the leadership team and broader talent base.
- Keeping voluntary attrition for critical roles and high-performing individual below 10%, minimizing replacement costs and loss of institutional knowledge.
- Improvement in Burson’s market profile and reputation in Hong Kong.
- Financial discipline, forecasting accuracy, and operational effectiveness.
- Working Capital Management improvement year-on-year.
*This job description is intended as a summary of the typical duties and responsibilities of the role and is not exhaustive. The responsibilities of the jobholder may evolve over time in response to business needs.
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You belong at Burson:
Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.
At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.
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.
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