Associate Creative Director (FMCG)

twentysix; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

VML, part of WPP, is seeking an Associate Creative Director (Copy-Based) to elevate the verbal identity across client accounts. Reporting to an Executive Creative Director, you will lead the development of compelling narratives and mentor a team of copywriters.

This role demands a master storyteller, strategic thinker, and hands-on writer capable of shaping messages across digital, social, and traditional channels.

Qualifications

• 8-12+ years of progressive experience in an advertising or marketing agency, with a senior copywriting or copy-focused leadership focus.
• Strong portfolio showcasing copywriting, conceptual thinking, and campaigns across media.
• Proven ability to generate ideas and translate them into verbal concepts across integrated campaigns.
• Deep understanding of marketing strategy, consumer insights, and using copy to drive business results.
• Leadership experience in mentoring copywriters and guiding creative teams.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills for client presentations.

Responsibilities

• Lead ideation and development of breakthrough creative concepts and narratives from a copy-first perspective.
• Write, edit and oversee high-quality, on-brand copy for digital, social, traditional advertising, CRM, and emerging platforms.
• Ensure verbal messaging aligns with client objectives, brand voice, and audience insights.
• Mentor copywriters, fostering growth and ensuring high standards of craft and thinking.
• Present and persuade concepts and copy strategies to clients, building strong relationships.
• Collaborate with art directors, designers, strategists, accounts, and technologists for integrated solutions.
• Guard brand voice and tone across all client communications.
• Stay abreast of trends to bring fresh verbal solutions to challenges.
• Oversee multiple projects, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with briefs.

Skills

Leadership

Copywriting

Strategic thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Advertising, Marketing, English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field

Job description

Who We Are

VML, part of WPP, is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brands to drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and human first, award-winning work for blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy's. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave Reports, as a Leader among Marketing Creative and Content Service Providers, Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. In addition, VML’s specialist health network, VML Health, is one of the world’s largest and most awarded health agencies. VML’s global network is powered by 26,000 talented people across 55+ markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Associate Creative Director (Copy-Based) is a pivotal creative leader responsible for elevating the verbal identity and strategic messaging across client accounts. Reporting to an Executive Creative Director or Creative Director, you will lead the development of compelling narratives, powerful concepts, and impactful copy that resonates with audiences and drives business results. You will mentor and inspire a team of copywriters, ensuring all creative output is strategically sound, impeccably crafted, and consistently delivers on VML's standard of creative excellence. This role demands a master storyteller, a strategic thinker, and a hands‑on writer who can articulate a vision and bring it to life through words across all media.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conceptual Leadership: Lead the ideation and development of breakthrough creative concepts, campaign platforms, and strategic narratives from a copy-first perspective.

• Copy Excellence & Craft: Write, edit, and oversee the creation of high-quality, persuasive, and on-brand copy for a wide range of channels including digital, social, traditional advertising, content marketing, CRM, and emerging platforms.

• Strategic Messaging: Ensure all verbal communication is strategically aligned with client objectives, brand voice, and target audience insights. Translate complex marketing strategies into clear, compelling, and actionable messages.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Guide, inspire, and mentor a team of copywriters, fostering their growth, providing constructive feedback, and ensuring the highest standards of craft and conceptual thinking.

• Client Presentation & Persuasion: Confidently present and articulate creative concepts and copy strategies to clients, effectively selling ideas and building strong client relationships.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work seamlessly with Art Directors, Designers, Strategists, Account Teams, and Technologists to ensure integrated creative solutions where copy and visuals work in harmony.

• Brand Stewardship: Act as a guardian of brand voice and tone, ensuring consistency and distinctiveness across all client communications.

• Trend & Innovation: Stay abreast of industry trends, cultural shifts, and emerging communication technologies to bring fresh perspectives and innovative verbal solutions to client challenges.

• Project Management: Oversee multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to creative briefs and strategic goals.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Experience: 8-12+ years of progressive experience in an advertising or marketing agency, with a significant portion in a senior copywriting or copy-focused leadership role.

• Portfolio: A strong, diverse portfolio showcasing exceptional copywriting, conceptual thinking, and successful campaigns across various media, demonstrating a clear understanding of how words drive impact.

• Conceptual Strength: Proven ability to generate big ideas and translate them into compelling verbal concepts that can be executed across integrated campaigns.

• Strategic Acumen: A deep understanding of marketing strategy, consumer insights, and how to use copy to solve business problems and achieve client objectives.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrated experience in leading, inspiring, and developing creative talent, particularly copywriters.

• Communication Skills: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to both internal teams and clients.

• Adaptability: Ability to adapt writing style and tone to suit different brands, audiences, and platforms.

• Collaboration: A highly collaborative spirit, with experience working effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Advertising, Marketing, English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.

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 you require accommodations or flexibility, please 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.

VML is a WPP agency (NYSE: WPP). For more information,please visit www.vml.com, andfollowalong on Instagram,LinkedIn, and X.