Business Director (Tobacco)

Wunderman Thompson; Kuala Lumpur; Hybrid; MYR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

VML, part of WPP, is seeking a Business Director to oversee senior client relationships and coordinate resources for campaigns, ensuring delivery within budgets and timelines.

The role centers on leading client strategy, managing a team of executives, and liaising with senior clients. It is office-based with a hybrid model, requiring strong communication and budgetary discipline.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in professional client relationship management.
• Strategically sound with understanding of brand strategy and process of delivering an ATL. Previous experience on FMGC will be good.
• Experience working with multiple interagency partners outside the WPP network (digital, media, PR, experiential).
• Occasional travel for client meetings, new business presentations and brief taking.
• Ability to collaborate with inter‑agencies to deliver an integrated campaign.
• Persuasive and confident approach to creative projects.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Effective team management capabilities.
• Keen attention to detail and budgetary restraints.
• Awareness of creative processes across ATL and digital platforms.

Responsibilities

• Taking a lead in clients’ marketing and advertising strategies
• Leading a team to provide the utmost level of client service
• Liaising with clients at a senior level (marketing manager) on a day-to-day basis
• Promoting the expansion of business with existing clients
• Working with other within the agency to generate new accounts
• Completing projects to a specific schedule and within an agreed budget
• Skills to push clients and the agency creatively and strategically

Skills

Client relationship management

Strategic thinking

Budget management

Team management

Communication skills

Client presentations

Job description

Who We Are

VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.

VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting‑edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Primarily responsible for the management of relationships with clients. As the senior point of contact for an agency's customers, the Business Director also co‑ordinates the resources needed to service projects, builds strategic operational plans and balances the expectations of clients with the execution of creative work. The Business Director ensures the smooth production of campaigns – from briefing designers and copywriters, to managing budgets and possibly a team executives. On the whole, this is an office‑based role and the Business Director will spend time in meetings and briefings, as well as remaining in close contact with key clients.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Taking a lead in clients’ marketing and advertising strategies
• Leading a team to provide the utmost level of client service
• Liaising with clients at a senior level (marketing manager) on a day-to-day basis
• Promoting the expansion of business with existing clients
• Working with other within the agency to generate new accounts
• Completing projects to a specific schedule and within an agreed budget
• Skills to push clients and the agency creatively and strategically

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE & DEMONSTRATED BEHAVIOURS

• Significant experience in professional client relationship management
• Must be strategically sound and able to understand brand strategy and process of delivering a ATL. Previous experience on FMGC will be good.
• Must have experience working with multiple interagency (not within WPP network) i.e Digital agency, Media agency, PR agency, Experiential agency
• Occasional travel is usually required for client meeting/presentation, new business presentations, planning and brief taking (in client's office).
• The ability to work with other inter‑agencies to deliver an integrated communication campaign
• A persuasive and confident approach to creative projects
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Effective team management capabilities
• A keen attention to detail and budgetary restraints
• Full awareness of creative processes and techniques – including ATL and digital platforms

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.