Business Development Manager - Agency Accounts

Informa Plc; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Business Development Manager to drive growth and foster relationships within the agency landscape. This role focuses on building a robust pipeline, qualifying leads, and promoting innovative e-learning solutions. With a commitment to inclusivity and professional development, the company offers a supportive environment where your contributions will shape the future of B2B events. Join a team that values energy and ambition, and take advantage of extensive career opportunities while enjoying a flexible work-life balance.

Benefits

Flexible Working Hours

Career Development Opportunities

25 Days Annual Leave

Company Funded Private Medical Cover

ShareMatch Scheme

Wellbeing Support

Charity Match Funding

In-Person and Online Social Events

Qualifications

• Proven track record in achieving sales targets, preferably in e-learning.
• Strong persuasive skills and executive presence.

Responsibilities

• Achieve personal revenue targets through consistent activity and pipeline development.
• Establish and maintain strong client relationships to enhance loyalty.

Skills

Sales Target Achievement

Relationship Building

Consultative Selling

Communication Skills

Business Development

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Company Description

Informa Festivals marks an exciting new chapter in B2B events, bringing some of the world's most influential creative, technology and business festivals together. We’re combining prestigious brands like Cannes Lions, Black Hat, Money20/20 and London Tech Week with cutting-edge marketing intelligence platforms and advisory services to deliver unmissable experiences and insights.

Our festival-led approach reimagines traditional B2B events, creating powerful, immersive experiences that drive innovation and industry advancement. Building on decades of expertise and powered by Informa's international reach, we're shaping the next generation of business festivals.

We’re part of Informa, a global business with a network of trusted brands in specialist markets across more than 30 countries, and a member of the FTSE 100 who are #3 in Glassdoor's Best Places to Work 2025 UK list.

Job Description

The LIONS Division showcases global best practice in creativity, effective and impactful marketing through Contagious, LIONS and WARC. We set the global benchmark in creative and effective marketing and, through our insight and advisory services, enable brands and their partners to reach and exceed it.

We provide a suite of solutions that connect, inform and unlock potential for people and businesses, covering events, intelligence, training and advisory services. Our five-day Festival in Cannes, France is the meeting place for the global marketing community and a celebration of the world’s most excellent and effective work.

As Business Development Manager, you will:

• Concentrate exclusively on agency clients, building a robust pipeline
• Source and prospect new opportunities within the agency landscape
• Qualify leads and present our e-learning solutions effectively
• Adhere to established processes and meet monthly targets
• Promote our entire e-learning portfolio, with emphasis on our flagship Cannes Lions Creative MBA

You will be responsible for the growth and retention of key agency accounts, reporting directly to the LIONS Learning Head of Commercial.

Key Responsibilities

Revenue Growth: Achieve personal revenue targets through consistent activity and pipeline development.

Client Retention: Establish and maintain strong client relationships to enhance loyalty, minimize attrition, and drive repeat business. Success metric: 85%+ completion rate.

Performance Metrics: Deliver accurate forecasting of prospects and opportunities through to closure for yourself and your team.

Stakeholder Management: Cultivate robust relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior management and industry experts, to align objectives and drive success.

This role may encompass additional responsibilities as our organization evolves.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a professional who is:

• Process-oriented with adaptability to dynamic environments
• Personable, with strong relationship-building skills
• Committed to fairness and inclusivity
• Adept at identifying strategic partnerships across the market

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Comprehensive understanding of valuable and engaging course content
• Proven track record in achieving sales targets, preferably in e-learning
• Experience working with or for agencies
• Expertise in consultative selling with a solution-focused approach
• Strong persuasive skills and executive presence
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities
• Proficiency in identifying and developing new business opportunities
• Capability to collaborate effectively across global time zones
• Adaptability to thrive in fast-paced work environments
• Experience in engaging with senior management, business leads, stakeholders, and industry experts

Additional Information

We work hard to make sure Life at Informa is rewarding, supportive and enjoyable for everyone. Here’s some of what you can expect when you join us. But don’t just take our word for it – see what our colleagues have to sayLifeAt.Informa.com

Our benefits include:

• Freedom & flexibility:colleagues rate us highly for the flexibility and trust they receive and most of us balance time in the office with time working remotely
• Great community:a welcoming culture with in-person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active diversity and inclusion networks
• Broader impact:take up to four days per year to volunteer, with charity match funding available too
• Career opportunity:the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves
• Time out:25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after two years, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year
• A flexible range of personal benefits to choose from, plus company funded private medical cover
• A ShareMatch scheme that allows you to become an Informa shareholder with free matching shares
• Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, a healthy living subsidy, access to health apps and more
• Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programmes
• As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world

We’re not solely focused on a checklist of skills. We champion energy and ambition and look for colleagues who will roll their sleeves up, join in and help make things happen. If it sounds like a match and you have most – although not all – of the skills and experience listed, we welcome your application.

At Informa, you'll find inclusive experiences and environments where all perspectives and backgrounds are welcomed. As part of this approach and our diversity and inclusion commitments, we are also formally an Equal Opportunities Employer. This means we base decisions on relevant qualifications and merit and do not discriminate on the basis of key characteristics and statuses, including all of those protected by law. Ask us or see our website for full information.

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