Managing Director, Account Management

Who we are looking for

VML is seeking a visionary Managing Director, Account Management based in our Rogers office to serve as the executive agency lead for an iconic CPG food and beverage account. Operating in a hybrid model, this person will lead a flagship client partnership poised for substantial scale-driving an expansive multi-million-dollar remit spanning integrated brand building, breakthrough creative campaigns, commerce transformation, and retail go-to-market strategies across major U.S. retailers.

The Managing Director serves as the primary partner to senior client leadership-including Brand Vice Presidents, Business Unit leaders, and C-suite stakeholders-translating complex enterprise business challenges into clear, inspiring, and commercial agency strategies. We are looking for a true "Creative Commerce" leader: someone with an acute digital-first sensibility and a proven track record of connecting big, brand-defining creative ideas with the commercial and shopper realities of mass retail.

Operating at the center of a collaborative, multi-office agency ecosystem, you will anchor the client relationship and delivery team locally in Northwest Arkansas while orchestrating distributed creative and strategic talent across national hubs and collaborating seamlessly with external partner agencies. You will directly manage, mentor, and cultivate a high-performing local team while evolving a modern, AI-enabled operating model that drives speed, scale, strategic agility, and financial profitability.

What you'll do

• Lead Client Strategy & Executive Partnership | Serve as the trusted, strategic advisor to Brand VPs, category heads, and executive leadership. Deeply understand the client's enterprise growth objectives, margins, and retail landscape to architect holistic brand and commerce strategies that elevate brand equity and drive volume. Command the room in high-stakes presentations, quarterly executive business reviews, and strategic board-level discussions with polish, clarity, and authority.
• Champion Creative Commerce | Position the agency as a modern creative and commercial engine. Move beyond traditional shopper marketing or digital-shelf execution to lead integrated, culture-defining creative campaigns and high-impact brand/retail toolkits designed for top-tier national retail channels. Advocate for industry-leading creative excellence while ensuring work is deeply rooted in performance, digital-first frameworks, and conversion across the physical and digital retail ecosystem.
• Orchestrate Multi-Market & Cross-Discipline Delivery | Lead an agile, distributed operating model. Act as the central connective tissue between local Northwest Arkansas account/delivery teams and world-class creative, strategic, and production talent across key national offices. Partner proactively with external partner agencies and media partners to ensure seamless, end-to-end integration and flawless execution.
• Drive Commercial Portfolio Growth & Profitability | Own the commercial health, staffing allocation, and P&L for a high-growth client portfolio with significant multi-year expansion potential. Accurately forecast revenue, oversee resource management, protect margin profitability, and proactively identify opportunities for organic account expansion and strategic upstream initiatives.
• Mentor Leaders & Pioneer Modern Operating Models | Directly manage and develop a dedicated account team, fostering a culture of strategic rigor, creative ambition, and client service excellence. Modernize team workflows by adopting emerging AI-enabled asset creation and agile delivery platforms to maximize efficiency, scale, and strategic impact.

What you'll need

• 12+ years of progressive account leadership and marketing experience within a premier advertising agency, client-side brand management organization, or major retail environment.
• Based in or willing to relocate to northwest Arkansas, with the ability to maintain regular, high-touch on-site engagement with local executive clients and team members in a hybrid environment.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale brand and creative transformations that successfully bridge high-concept brand building with modern commerce and retail realities.
• Demonstrated experience championing and delivering highly recognized, culture-shaping creative work.
• Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the polish and confidence required to engage effortlessly with VPs, CMOs, and executive leadership teams.
• Deep command of the North American consumer packaged goods (CPG) landscape, food and beverage sector, and mass merchant/club store ecosystems (e.g., Walmart, Sam's Club, and grocery channels).
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary, cross-office teams across strategy, creative, commerce, production, and project management in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Strong commercial background managing significant account budgets and staffing models, with a proven ability to scale accounts and drive profitable growth.
• Experience directly managing, mentoring, and developing senior account leaders.
• Willingness to travel as needed for executive summits, strategic workshops, production shoots, and inter-office collaborations.

Pay and benefits

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, click WPP Benefits for more details.

$100,000 - $230,000 USD

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.

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