Associate Vice President, Client Services, India
WPP Media · Gurugram
About WPP Media
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.
Role Summary & Impact
This role sits within the Client Leadership & Planning practice at WPP Media, where you will lead integrated media strategy, client partnerships, and media solutions for key accounts. As AVP – Client Services, you will drive end-to-end integrated media planning and client leadership, with a strong focus on offline media across TV, Print, Radio, OOH, Sponsorships and Content Integrations, while ensuring effective integration with digital and emerging media channels.
You will act as a strategic partner to senior client stakeholders, translating business objectives into impactful media strategies and ensuring seamless delivery across planning, buying, investment, and activation teams. The role requires strong understanding of the traditional media ecosystem, media investments, market trends, audience measurement and commercial negotiations, along with the ability to collaborate with digital, commerce, data, analytics, and technology specialists.
Key Responsibilities
Client Leadership & Integrated Media Strategy
- Lead integrated media strategy and planning aligned with client business and marketing objectives.
- Build and manage strong relationships with senior client stakeholders and act as a trusted media advisor.
- Lead annual media planning, campaign strategies, launches, and integrated communication initiatives.
- Translate client business objectives into actionable media strategies across offline and digital channels.
- Drive strategic discussions around media effectiveness, investment allocation, market opportunities, and campaign performance.
Offline Media Planning & Investment
- Lead offline media planning and investment across TV, Print, Radio, OOH, Sponsorships, Content Integrations and other traditional media platforms.
- Develop media strategies based on audience behavior, market intelligence, competitive activity, reach, frequency, GRPs, CPRP and other relevant media metrics.
- Work closely with buying and investment teams to ensure effective execution, optimization, negotiations and delivery of media plans.
- Demonstrate strong understanding of BARC, TV genres, channel mix, programming,inventory and broadcaster relationships.
- Drive effective media negotiations and identify opportunities for value-adds, efficiencies and improved media ROI.
- Evaluate media performance and provide actionable recommendations to improve campaign effectiveness and investment efficiency.
Integrated Planning & Offline Collaboration
- Ensure consistency between offline and digital strategies across audience, communication, investment and measurement.
- Leverage audience insights, research and data to strengthen integrated media recommendations.
- Stay abreast of emerging media opportunities and identify relevant solutions for clients.
- Client Growth & Business Development
- Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships through strategic media recommendations.
- Contribute to new business pitches with strong integrated media strategy and compelling presentations.
- Develop business cases, media narratives and strategic recommendations for senior stakeholders.
- Drive thought leadership through industry trends, market intelligence and innovative media solutions.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead and mentor planning and client servicing teams, fostering accountability and strategic thinking.
- Guide teams on media planning, investment, client management, presentations and execution excellence.
- Collaborate with specialist teams across WPP Media to deliver integrated solutions.
- Support capability building and development of team members across offline and integrated media.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong experience in integrated media planning and client servicing with significant offline media exposure.
- Deep understanding of TV, Print, Radio, OOH, Sponsorships and Content Integrations.
- Strong knowledge of BARC, GRPs, CPRP, reach, frequency, media investment and campaign measurement.
- Strong understanding of media buying, negotiations, inventory, broadcaster and publisher relationships.
- Ability to develop integrated strategies across traditional and digital media.
- Strong commercial acumen and ability to manage media investments effectively.
- Excellent client servicing, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- Strong presentation, storytelling and communication skills.
- Proven ability to lead and mentor teams and manage multiple stakeholders.
Qualifications & Experience
- 9 - 11 years of experience in Media Planning, Client Servicing, Integrated Media, preferably within a media agency environment.
- Strong experience managing offline-heavy integrated media mandates and large client portfolios.
- Proven experience across TV, Print, Radio and OOH, with exposure to digital media considered an advantage.
- Strong understanding of media planning, buying, investment, audience measurement and campaign effectiveness.
- Experience working with leading brands across FMCG, Automotive, Technology, Telecom or similar sectors will be an advantage
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.
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