Overview:
This role sits within Haymarket’s specialist Automotive division, championing the dual-brand powerhouse of What Car? and Autocar. What Car? serves as the ultimate, data-driven consumer champion and purchase-funnel tool, while Autocar stands as the definitive authority on automotive passion, deep-dive reviews, and industry insight. Together, they deliver market-leading branded experiences, cross-platform media solutions, and lead-generation tools that shape consumer decisions and drive commercial growth for automotive and media agency partners.
The Role
The primary purpose of the Account Director is to act as the commercial and strategic lead for key media agencies, serving as the senior point of contact for independent and network partners. In this role, you will nurture strategic agency relationships and translate client marketing objectives into high-impact cross-platform campaigns. By driving multi-channel content partnerships, native advertising, and programmatic data solutions, you add direct value to agency clients while consistently accelerating revenue growth across both iconic automotive titles.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Relationship Management: Serve as the primary, senior point of contact for key independent and network media agencies, establishing best-in-class relationships.
Consultative Selling: Interrogate client briefs to develop innovative, multi-channel content partnerships, native advertising, and programmatic data solutions.
Commercial Growth: Identify opportunities to upsell and cross-sell integrated campaigns across both digital, print, data, lead generation, and podcast sponsorships.
Pitch Leadership: Lead high-level commercial pitches, working closely with ad operations, creative studio, and data teams to build winning, unified proposals.
Cross-Department Collaboration: Oversee the delivery of complex content partnerships by liaising with Project Managers, Editorial Leads, Video Production, and Ad Operations.
Performance Optimisation: Monitor account performance and track campaigns against client KPIs using first-party data and analytics, providing clients with actionable, valuable commercial insights.
Market Position Advancement: Increase the speed of going to market for new products, approaches, and brand opportunities across agency teams.
Works closely with Media Agencies, Ad Operations, Creative Studio, Data Teams, Project Managers, and Editorial Leads to build effective working relationships, share knowledge, provide support, and contribute to the successful delivery of business objectives.
Skills / Experience / Knowledge / Minimum Criteria:
Comprehensive knowledge of the media, publishing, or agency ecosystem.
Strong understanding of commercial sales principles, consultative selling, and customer relationship management.
Advanced knowledge of digital media channels, including digital display, programmatic advertising, and content partnerships.
Understanding of dual-brand synergy and positioning distinct audience demographics (e.g., consumer purchase-funnel vs. enthusiast insight).
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills, with the gravitas to influence C-suite marketing directors.
Ability to interpret complex data, Google Analytics, and lead-generation statistics to produce meaningful insights and compelling commercial narratives.
Strong presentation and pitch-leading capabilities.
Effective stakeholder management and collaboration across multiple internal operational and creative teams.
Relevant experience as an Account Director (or Senior Account Manager ready to step up) within a media agency, creative agency, or media publisher.
Extensive experience in managing, growing, and nurturing senior strategic customer or client relationships.
Confident in delivering complex multi-channel commercial, media, or marketing projects.
Proven experience working within a fast-paced, target-driven environment.
Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams to build integrated, winning business proposals.
Results driven: Focused on hitting and exceeding milestones and driving brand portfolio growth.
Collaborative: Thrives when working alongside ad ops, creative studio, and production teams to achieve success.
Customer focused: Dedicated to deeply understanding client briefs and maximizing return on investment for agency partners.
Accountable: Takes ownership of revenue targets, strategic communication, and high-level project oversight.
Leads by example: Displays the industry authority and gravitas necessary to build trust with agency networks.
Financial performance against portfolio revenue growth expectations.
Customer and media agency satisfaction evidenced by strong, best-in-class strategic relationships.
Operational efficiency in coordinating complex multi-platform campaigns with internal teams.
Achievement of strategic objectives, including accelerated time-to-market for new advertising products
Haymarket Media Group values its people and strives to shape a better future with remarkable content. From paid content and subscription services; to integrated advertising and content marketing packages. We deliver market-leading branded experiences that inspire great decisions. From data and digital information solutions to live events, awards and professional education services.
Our Company benefits
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25 days holiday per year excluding bank holidays (increasing 1 day per year of service up to 30 days)
Work from anywhere in the world for up to 3 weeks of the year with our ‘Work from Anywhere’ days
Flexible working hours (core hours from 10-3) allowing you the flexibility to adapt your work schedule to your personal commitments
Generous contributory pension scheme
Health Cash Plans: With our health cash plans, you can access a range of healthcare benefits, including coverage for medical expenses, dental care, optical services, and more
We are a Disability Confident employer and offer guaranteed interviews to all disabled applicants who meet the above minimum criteria. To be considered as part of this initiative, please ensure you indicate if you have a disability when applying for the post. If you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected].
Working here means being part of a commitment to shaping a better future. As a proudly Certified B Corp™, we are part of a global movement of businesses acting as a force for good. Haymarket Impact is focused on making a positive difference globally, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and intertwined with an unwavering commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. This commitment to balancing profit with purpose is deeply embedded in our culture, reflected in our values of Integrity, Respect, Creativity, Innovation, and Expertise.
We invest heavily in our people. From professional development and internal training to mentorship and coaching. Our certified Disability Confident status has fostered an environment where all employees feel supported, valued, and can ask for workplace adjustments without fear of judgment.
Our valuable partnerships for good globally mean colleagues are always up for taking on a new charitable challenge, utilise their volunteering day and go out of their way to support their local communities.
We know how important a healthy work-life balance is too. Our flexible hours and hybrid working model means employees are expected to be in the office at least three days a week and can work remotely for the remaining two. This means we thrive together when we collaborate in person, fostering stronger connections and creativity, but still allowing for flexibility outside of those times.
As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to ensuring all candidates have the same opportunity to succeed, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, or disability. In line with our dedication to fairness and transparency, we are also proud to be a We Show the Salary employer, pledging to always include pay details on our job adverts.
Join us and be part of award-winning teams and a culture that is truly unique - a place to grow, feel inspired, build a brilliant career and make a difference.
