Implementation & Activation Director

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. 

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

Clients: Universal Pictures and Warner Bros.

EssenceMediacom, part of WPP, is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.

As the Implementation & Activation Director for UPI & Warner Bros., you are a pivotal leader responsible for driving digital media strategy, planning, and activation for these key entertainment clients. This role oversees a dedicated team focused on digital (direct and biddable) media, collaborates strategically across departments, and champions data-driven approaches to achieve client business objectives and lead digital transformation. You will ensure best-in-class campaign execution, effective client engagement, and robust compliance management, acting as a trusted advisor to senior client and internal stakeholders. This role is instrumental in leading the development and implementation of the client's data/digital transformation roadmap, ensuring measurable solutions and continuous improvement across all digital efforts.

• →Lead and manage the Digital Team, ensuring high-quality output, efficient workflow, and proactive quality control.
• →Collaborate with Planning and Activation leadership to deliver holistic and integrated responses to client briefs and core projects.
• →Consult within the broader Strategic & Activation Planning team, ensuring the quality, integration, and accuracy of digital responses prior to client presentation.
• →Provide expert guidance and coaching on best-in-class digital activation practices for both Direct and Biddable Digital team members.
• →Engage and lead specific client portfolio projects, aligning digital strategies with client business KPIs and collaborating across internal and external stakeholders (Client Leadership, EM experts, NZ/Global teams, and the Client Digital Director).
• →Spearhead the development and implementation of the client's data and digital transformation roadmap for 2026 and beyond.
• →Proactively address client feedback, implementing measurable solutions and actionable plans in a timely manner.
• →Ensure robust digital compliance management across all campaigns and strategies.

• Deep expertise in both direct and biddable digital media, with a strong comprehension of its role within the broader marketing/media mix.
• Proven expertise in effective digital campaign planning principles.
• Strong capabilities in audience profiling and insights into media usage behavior.
• Expertise in the strategic role of device, platform, and format in digital media.
• Adept at leveraging 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party data for audience targeting, including setting up and managing test campaigns in collaboration with our Transformation team.
• Proficiency in defining measurement metrics and setting effective KPIs for digital campaigns.
• Strategic understanding of when to apply Direct vs. Biddable buying models for optimal campaign performance.
• Ability to establish and measure test hypotheses, fostering a strategic test-and-learn framework.
• Demonstrated effective engagement and communication with diverse stakeholders, including client leadership, strategic and planning leads, functional experts (including our Transformation team) within EM, and both junior and senior clients.