Associate Account Director (Telco/Banking)

VML; Kuala Lumpur; Hybrid; MYR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative agency in Kuala Lumpur seeks an experienced Account Director to manage client relationships and drive brand strategy. In this role, you will lead a team, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and delivering excellent creative work. Ideal candidates should have integrated campaign experience and be skilled in brand activation, with a focus on fostering team development and commercial growth.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Collaborative work culture

Qualifications

• Solid integrated campaign experience required.
• Proven agency experience with expert partners.
• Ability to present confidently to marketing heads.

Responsibilities

• Drive brand strategic vision alongside the planners.
• Manage projects with financial targets.
• Supervise delivery of work from the account group.

Skills

Integrated campaign experience

Brand activation knowledge

Presentation skills

Mentoring

Commercially savvy

Job description

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever‑evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end‑to‑end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

The Account Director supports the Business Head by building a strong team. Success on the account is seen through creating an environment for great work, being responsible for the profitable delivery of services, holding key client relationships, and delivering the best creative work alongside the overall strategy of the client.

Key Responsibilities:

• Understands and drives the strategic vision of the brand (alongside the planners).
• Brand activation experience – managing various expert partners such as digital, social, PR, media, events and ensuring a powerful, robust creative idea.
• Handles multiple briefs simultaneously and leads the smooth delivery of each.
• Ensures projects follow the overall strategic direction of the brand.
• Directs the team and other departments on projects, strictly adhering to internal and client processes while leading project delivery.
• Controls and leads projects with financial targets in mind.
• Engages with Business Heads on initiatives to further unlock client business.
• Ensures all requirements are being met in terms of overall project delivery.
• Supervises and manages the delivery of work from the account group.
• Plans and assigns workload proactively for the business.
• Acts as the client’s trusted partner, providing sound brand and business consultation and taking a lead in marketing and advertising strategies.
• Develops, grows, and nurtures junior clients.
• Shares best practice constantly with clients.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Solid integrated campaign experience.
• Proven lead agency experience with multiple expert partners and in‑depth brand activation experience – including digital, social, PR, media, events, 1‑2‑1, CRM, and online‑to‑offline activation.
• Ability to put together presentations and confidently present to heads of marketing.
• Serves as a soundboard and advisor to the clients.
• Mentors the team.
• Knowledgeable on 360 communications and actively pursues digital opportunities.
• Commercially savvy and looks for growth opportunities.

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 an average of four days a week. If accommodations or flexibility are needed, discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) 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.