About WPP Media

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.

2986 - Account Director, Commerce - UK

About EssenceMediacom: A Leading WPP Media Brand

EssenceMediacom 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.

Role Summary and Impact

The Role:

We’re seeking an experienced Retail Media Account Director to come and join the growing community in WPP Media’s Commerce Practice.

We’re looking for a skilled Commerce Media Account Director to lead key client accounts across Amazon Sponsored Ads, Amazon DSP, CitrusAd, Criteo & Kevel. You’ll be a senior member of the team, responsible for translating your client’s business objectives into media strategies, while also ensuring operational excellence and coaching your team of commerce media specialists.

Responsibilities:

Act as the day to day senior contact for key clients, providing strategic guidance across Amazon and additional retailers utilising CitrusAd, Criteo & Kevel.

Build and oversee performance-driven media plans (leveraging Sponsored Advertising, DSP, onsite/offsite retail audiences)

Ensure campaigns are executed to the highest standard, including QA, pacing and optimisation

Lead business reviews with clear narrative on the impact of media including but not exclusive to ROAS, new to brand share, and retail sales impact

Develop test and learn roadmaps to drive client innovation in targeting, bidding and new retail media formats

Manage scope, forecasting, budgets and profitability across your accounts

Line manage and mentor a team of activation specialists, setting standards for quality and delivery

Collaborate with internal teams to ensure we are driving a full funnel approach to media for our clients

Help o drive process automation through adoption of technology and efficient ways of working.

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.

Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.

Lead Optimistically by Championing Growthand Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

About you

Proven media agency background

Strong hands-on experience running campaigns in Amazon Sponsored Ads and DSP

Solid working knowledge of CitrusAd and Criteo (onsite and offsite retail media)

Confident managing senior client stakeholders, simplifying complex performance results into clear recommendations

Passion for coaching and building capability in your team

Experience of Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) or retailer clean room analytics would be a nice to have but not required

Exposure to wider commerce channels (e.g. Tesco Media)

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular 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.

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 around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.

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Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.

About the company

WPP Media is a global media services arm that manages more than $60 billion in annual advertising investments for leading brands. It operates across a network of established agencies (Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom) and combines media planning, data, production, and commerce through its proprietary WPP Open platform. Its Open Intelligence data model uses real-time behavioral signals to drive predictive, faster, and smarter marketing campaigns. The company positions itself as an AI-native media collective, consolidating capabilities under a single technology stack to improve efficiency and scale for advertisers. Its goal is to help clients buy and optimize media more effectively by leveraging integrated data, advanced analytics, and automated execution at scale.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2003

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

August 6, 2026 results showed WPP Media's quarterly decline improved to 2.8%.
WPP appointed Laura Ryan chief media officer in 2026, strengthening investment and activation leadership.
Retail media and commerce promotions in October 2026 deepen WPP Media's linked commerce strategy.

What critics are saying

H1 2026 WPP Media revenue less pass-through costs fell 5.4%, showing client losses.
FTC sued GroupM on April 15, 2026 over alleged advertising collusion and demonetization practices.
Sindhuja Rai's October 2026 exit and APAC churn signal unstable leadership during restructuring.

What makes WPP Media unique

May 2025 rebrand unified GroupM into WPP Media around WPP Open and Open Intelligence.
WARC Media 100 ranked WPP Media first again on March 13, 2026.
WPP Media combines Mindshare, Wavemaker, and EssenceMediacom under shared data and commerce infrastructure.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Paid Time Off

Hybrid Work Options

Remote Work Options

401(k) Retirement Plan

Wellness Program

Mental Health Support

Paid Holidays

Paid Vacation

Gym Membership

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Employee Discounts

Employee Referral Bonus

Professional Development Budget

Conference Attendance Budget

Training Programs

Tuition Reimbursement

Professional Certification Support

Phone/Internet Stipend

Home Office Stipend

Parental Leave

Family Planning Benefits

Fertility Treatment Support

Adoption Assistance

Childcare Support

Sabbatical Leave

Relocation Assistance

Stock Options

Company Equity

Meal Benefits

Commuter Benefits

Legal Services

Mentorship Program

EssenceMediacom

Employee Discounts

Company News

MarTech360

Oct 1st, 2026

WPP Media promotes Isobel MacDougall as Commerce Director.

WPP Media promotes Isobel MacDougall as Commerce Director. WPP Media has promoted Isobel MacDougall to Commerce Director, expanding her responsibilities within the agency's commerce function as retail media and commerce marketing become increasingly connected to broader media strategies. MacDougall shared news of the promotion in a recent career update. Her move into the Commerce Director role comes as agencies continue to develop dedicated commerce capabilities covering ecommerce, retail media, marketplaces, performance marketing, and related technology. The commerce function has become an increasingly important part of the marketing ecosystem. Brands are connecting media investment more closely with purchasing journeys, while retail media networks and commerce platforms are creating additional opportunities to reach consumers closer to the point of consideration and purchase. Within WPP Media, commerce sits across areas including media, data, technology, partnerships, and performance. The agency's broader commerce practice focuses on connected commerce and the integration of commerce activity with media planning and investment. The changing role of commerce is also reflected in the responsibilities attached to commerce leadership positions across WPP Media. These can include retail media strategy, ecommerce campaign management, marketplace partnerships, measurement, data, and coordination with media and performance teams. MacDougall's promotion therefore comes at a time when commerce is moving beyond a standalone ecommerce function and becoming more closely integrated with media planning, audience strategy, data, and measurement. For media agencies, this evolution requires teams to work across an increasingly fragmented ecosystem of retailers, marketplaces, advertising platforms, and commerce technologies. Commerce leaders are consequently taking on broader responsibilities around strategy, activation, partnerships, and operational coordination. MacDougall's new position adds to WPP Media's commerce leadership structure as the agency continues to develop capabilities across the changing retail media and digital commerce landscape.

exchange4media

Oct 1st, 2026

Seshadri Shankaran joins WPP Media as Senior Vice President.

Seshadri Shankaran joins WPP Media as Senior Vice President. Seshadri Shankaran joins WPP Media from Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. (The Times of India), where he served as General Manager till August 2026. Seshadri Shankaran has joined WPP Media as Senior Vice President - Client Investments, Marketplace and Partnerships, India. Based in Mumbai, Shankaran will be responsible for managing products for media solutions in his new role, which he took up in September 2026. He joins WPP Media from Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. (The Times of India), where he served as General Manager from September 2025 to August 2026, handling business strategy and revenue planning, yield management, opportunity identification and deal structuring and sales support. Shankaran previously spent over a decade with GroupM, where he held leadership roles including National Head - Agency Investments, Head - Strategic Partnerships (India), Business Head (Inventory Media), and Head - Business Strategy & Product Head (Inventory Media) at Matrix. His earlier experience includes roles in media consulting at GroupM, product and revenue strategy at Star TV, and sales strategy at Times Internet.

PitchOnNet

Oct 1st, 2026

WPP Media APAC Chief Client Officer Sindhuja Rai exits agency.

WPP Media APAC Chief Client Officer Sindhuja Rai exits agency. Arthur Altounian, VP - Singapore and Malaysia at WPP Media, has also announced his departure from the agency WPP Media is seeing senior-level movement in its APAC leadership, with Sindhuja Rai, Chief Client Officer, APAC, set to leave the company, according to media reports. Rai's exit comes after a three-year stint with the group. She was appointed Chief Client Officer, APAC, in June 2025, having previously served as CEO, Wavemaker, APAC, since joining the organisation in September 2023. Her professional profile also lists an APAC client leadership role at WPP Media between October 2024 and June 2025. Prior to joining WPP Media, Rai was with Mondelēz International. Separately, Arthur Altounian, VP - Singapore and Malaysia at WPP Media, has also announced his departure in a LinkedIn post, bringing his nearly 12-year association with the group to an end. Reflecting on his tenure, Altounian said his journey with WPP Media, formerly GroupM, began in London with the Xaxis pan-regional team before he relocated to Singapore.

Medianews4u

Sep 30th, 2026

Sindhuja Rai to exit WPP Media next month amid APAC leadership churn.

Sindhuja Rai to exit WPP Media next month amid APAC leadership churn. Chief Client Officer, APAC, Rai has spent over three years with WPP, including stints as Wavemaker APAC CEO and in regional client leadership. Reading Time: 2 mins read Sindhuja Rai, Chief Client Officer, APAC at WPP Media, is set to leave the company next month after more than three years with the business. Confirming the development, a WPP Media spokesperson said: "Rai will be leaving the business next month. We're grateful for her contributions during her time with us and wish her all the very best for what's next." The company also clarified that Rai's departure is not part of any significant restructuring underway within the regional business. Her next move has not been announced. Rai took charge as chief client officer, APAC in June 2025, following the launch of WPP Media and a reshuffle of its regional leadership. Based in Singapore, she was responsible for strengthening client service across APAC, overseeing global and regional accounts and leading the client solutions team. Before moving into the role, Rai served as CEO of Wavemaker APAC from September 2023 to June 2025. She also held a regional client leadership position at WPP Media between October 2024 and June 2025. A 25-year career across client and agency sides. Rai joined WPP after 13 years at Mondelēz International, where she most recently served as senior director, global media investment and AMEA consumer experience. Her career at Mondelēz included regional roles spanning media, data, digital and consumer engagement across APAC, the Middle East and Africa. With more than 25 years of experience across agency and client-side organisations, Rai has held senior leadership roles covering media, marketing, client management and consumer strategy. Senior leadership moves reshape APAC business. Rai's exit comes amid a series of senior leadership changes across WPP Media's APAC operations. In Malaysia, former Carat Malaysia partner and head Vanitha Selvathurai recently joined WPP Media as vice president, clients, with a mandate focused on strengthening client leadership and partnerships. In Hong Kong, the agency created a new chief client and operating officer role and appointed Adrian Lee to the position. Reporting to Michael Beecroft, CEO, WPP Media North East Asia, and working alongside Silas Ho, Lee is responsible for client leadership and operational excellence in the market. Elsewhere in the region, Arshan Saha, formerly CEO of WPP Media for Singapore and Malaysia and head of media management and delivery for APMEA, recently joined Aleph as regional managing director, APAC. His remit covers operations across 15 markets and platform partnerships in the region. While WPP Media has ruled out a significant restructuring linked to Rai's departure, her exit adds to a period of continuing senior-level movement across the company's APAC leadership ranks.

Campaign India

Sep 30th, 2026

WPP Media bags Agency of the Year at Campaign AI Awards.

WPP Media

Commerce Account Director - Commerce

About the job

About the company

Get referred to WPP Media

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

What critics are saying

What makes WPP Media unique

Benefits

Company News