Client Partner

dentsuaegis; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Merkle, a dentsu company, is seeking a Client Partner to drive growth across a focused portfolio of strategic clients. The role partners with the CCO to identify opportunities, shape solutions, and mobilise the best of Merkle and dentsu to deliver client outcomes.

The Client Partner will be a senior owner of client relationships, relentlessly client-focused and commercially driven, with a track record of substantial account growth and cross-market leadership.

Qualifications

• 12+ years' experience in client or relationship-led growth leadership within consulting, technology, digital transformation, CX, marketing technology or agency environments.
• Proven track record of building trusted, long-term client relationships with significant account growth.
• Credibility with director, executive and VP-level stakeholders, with sound judgment in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, becoming the go-to partner for innovation and value creation.
• Maintain expert knowledge of client industries, market trends, and competitive landscapes to proactively identify growth opportunities.
• Develop and execute growth strategies across your portfolio with the CCO and SMEs.
• Build and manage a qualified growth pipeline and take ownership of deal progression.
• Identify whitespace opportunities and help shape demand for client outcomes.
• Collaborate with finance and operations on commercial planning and forecasting.
• Mentor and develop high-performing team members and cross-functional talent.

Job description

The purpose of the Client Partner is to be a senior owner of a client relationship either locally or across markets. A Client Partner is expected to :

• Own the relationship with their central and/or local client
• Ensure the implementation of the strategic vision with the support of the internal team, local markets, OpCos and specialist functions
• Deliver business financial targets for designated clients;
• Be an ambassador for the business, connecting across internal and external networks to deliver the operating model and build the brand reputation of Dentsu Aegis Network

Merkle, a dentsu company, powers the experience economy. For more than 35 years, Merkle has put people at the heart of digital business transformation, combining strategy, data, technology, creativity and delivery to create experiences that drive growth, engagement and loyalty. With more than 16,000 people across 30+ countries, Merkle brings together the scale of dentsu with deep expertise in customer experience, commerce, data science, CRM, loyalty, marketing technology and digital transformation. For more information, visit www.merkle.com .

The Role

This role is for a Client Partner who can turn trusted strategic client relationships into measurable and sustainable growth. Working closely with the Chief Client Officer, the Client Partner will own growth across a focused portfolio of strategic clients, identify and shape demand early, develop qualified pipeline and mobilise the best of Merkle and dentsu around client outcomes.

This is not an account management role, a delivery leadership role, or a role for someone whose primary focus is internal operations. We are looking for someone who is relentlessly client focused, commercially driven and energised by growth; someone who creates opportunities rather than only responding to them, looks outward to markets and client needs, builds influential relationships, and makes growth a natural outcome of trust.

The purpose of the role is to accelerate sustainable growth by building senior relationships, identifying new opportunities, shaping solutions and creating significant commercial value for both clients and the business.

The Client Partner will work with the CCO and partners in Solutions and Delivery to shape growth strategies, support major client relationships and develop emerging talent within the client leadership team.

Your success will be measured by your contribution to portfolio growth through relationship depth, opportunity identification, deal closure, and your ability to identify and develop high-potential team members.

What You'll Be Responsible For

Client Relations

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, understanding their ambitions and pain points, becoming their go-to partner for innovation and value creation.
• Maintain expert knowledge of client industries, market trends, and competitive landscapes to proactively identify growth opportunities.
• Bring fresh thinking, innovation and relevant market perspectives to client conversations.

Growth Leadership

• Work with CCO and SMEs to develop and execute growth strategies across your portfolio
• Build and manage qualified growth pipeline; take ownership of deal progression
• Challenge assumptions and bring rigorous thinking to opportunity assessment

Strategic Leadership

• Identify whitespace opportunities and help shape demand
• Think beyond immediate client requirements and anticipate emerging needs
• Bring market, industry and customer experience insight into client conversations, connecting emerging needs to Merkle and dentsu capabilities.
• Support the development of compelling growth stories and business cases

Commercial Excellence

• Manage your portfolio with clear accountability and judgement for revenue, growth outcomes and margin
• Balance growth opportunity development with consistent delivery and client success
• Work collaboratively with the CCO, finance and operations on commercial planning and forecasting
• Demonstrate strong ownership mindset-treat client investment as if it were your own

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Build, mentor and develop a high-performing team, creating opportunities for emerging talent and contributing to a collaborative growth culture.
• Bring together the right people to solve client challenges; know when to leverage expertise from other areas of the business
• Operate with humility and lead with confidence where you add value, support where others lead

Experience & Background

Essential

• 12+ years' experience in client or relationship-led growth leadership within consulting, technology, digital transformation, CX, marketing technology or agency environments.
• Proven track record of building trusted, long-term client relationships that have resulted in substantial account growth and revenue expansion.
• Credibility with director, executive and VP-level stakeholders, with the judgement to navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Strong u