Executive Director, Marketing Intelligence Platforms & Innovation

twentysix; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 390,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

VML, part of WPP, is hiring an Executive Director, Marketing Intelligence Platforms & Innovation to lead mature product and analytics capabilities for Ford Motor Company. This global role partners with regional teams and executives to drive innovation and delivery across a multi-agency network.

The position requires 15+ years in product leadership, analytics, and program delivery, with automotive industry experience and strong executive communication. Hybrid work arrangement is offered.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience spanning product/capability leadership, analytics or marketing intelligence, and large-scale program or delivery management.
• A combination of automotive and/or broader industry expertise, hands-on product management experience, and agency or media agency experience.
• A track record of maturing analytics products and standardizing capabilities across complex, distributed, or multi-agency environments.
• Strong command of predictive/prescriptive analytics and applied AI, with the judgment to separate hype from genuine value.
• Demonstrated success managing executive-level deliverables — scoping, financials, resourcing — with precision and discretion.
• Experience supporting business development or new-business wins, ideally in a global or EMEA context.
• Exceptional cross-functional leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills at the executive level.

Responsibilities

• Evolve the maturity of marketing intelligence products and standardize capabilities across the global network and agency partners.
• Advance predictive and prescriptive analytics capabilities, including identifying and operationalizing high-value AI use cases.
• Establish and enforce engineering, data, and delivery standards that scale across regions and partners.

Skills

Executive leadership

Automotive domain

Analytics maturity

Predictive analytics

Executive delivery

Business development

Cross-functional leadership

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.

ABOUT US

The WPP l Ford Team is an integrated operating network made up of a dynamic multi-agency ecosystem that serves Ford Motor Company and its many diverse units around the world. This operating team provides a breadth of marketing experience for Ford across Communications, Marketing, Brand and Customer Experience, A.I., Creative, Production, Media, Strategy, Analytics, Commerce & Technology and more. **Operated under a central leadership team, it draws best-in-class talent from leading WPP agencies including VML (Brand & Customer Experience), WPP Media (Media), GTB (Precision Retail Marketing), WPP Production (Brand Design & Production), Zubi & UWG (Multicultural), and Burson (Corporate Communications/ Public Relations), among other key WPP specialists. WPP l Ford team members work in a highly integrated environment, with direct exposure across virtually every discipline of modern marketing.

This role is imbedded within VML agency as part of the WPP network. 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.

ABOUT FORD AND THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an exciting opportunity to join the team dedicated to WPP’s critically important client, Ford Motor Company. We’re building a world-class marketing intelligence function and seeking a Executive Director, Marketing Intelligence Platforms & Innovation to lead the maturation of our product and analytics capabilities, drive innovation, and govern the delivery of our highest-priority initiatives across a global, multi-agency network. Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Intelligence Officer, this senior leadership role partners closely with regional teams, agency partners, and cross-functional executives. The right person operates equally well as a capability builder, an innovation driver, and a disciplined delivery leader.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Maturity & Capability Standardization

• Evolve the maturity of our marketing intelligence products and standardize capabilities across the global network and agency partners, creating consistency in how we build, measure, and deliver.
• Advance our predictive and prescriptive analytics capabilities, including identifying and operationalizing high-value AI use cases.
• Establish and enforce engineering, data, and delivery standards that scale across regions and partners.

Program Governance & Executive Delivery

• Track and orchestrate high-priority projects and cross-functional efforts, ensuring alignment, communication, and accountability across teams.
• Manage executive-level deliverables end to end — scoping, financials, resourcing/HR reviews, and other senior reporting — bringing rigor and visibility to how priority work is run.
• Serve as a central point of coordination, making sure standards and processes are followed and that leadership has a clear, current view of progress.

Growth, Innovation & Thought Leadership

• Drive progress toward winning new global business, including the EMEA analytics scope, by closely tracking timelines, roadmap goals, and deliverables.
• Develop new innovation, thought leadership, and robust delivery standards and documentation that strengthen our competitive position and support business development.
• Translate emerging technology and market shifts into actionable opportunities for the function.

REQUIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Required

• 15+ years of experience spanning product/capability leadership, analytics or marketing intelligence, and large-scale program or delivery management.
• A combination of automotive and/or broader industry expertise, hands-on product management experience, and agency or media agency experience.
• A track record of maturing analytics products and standardizing capabilities across complex, distributed, or multi-agency environments.
• Strong command of predictive/prescriptive analytics and applied AI, with the judgment to separate hype from genuine value.
• Demonstrated success managing executive-level deliverables — scoping, financials, resourcing — with precision and discretion.
• Experience supporting business development or new-business wins, ideally in a global or EMEA context.
• Exceptional cross-functional leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills at the executive level.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package,

$155,000—$390,000 USDWe 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.