Business Development Associate

The Role

We are looking to hire a driven, target-focused Business Development Associate to join our EMEA Sales team in Holborn, London. Following our acquisition by WGSN, IWSR is combining world-class beverage alcohol data with global design and consumer forecasting, creating an unprecedented intelligence platform for the industry.

This is an on-site role based out of our London office.

Working at IWSR & WGSN

Together, we create tomorrow.

IWSR is the global benchmark for beverage alcohol data and intelligence. Recently acquired by WGSN, we combine deep, data-driven market insight with world-leading trend forecasting. As part of this expanded family, your work will empower the world's leading drinks brands, distributors, and investors to make data-backed strategic decisions.

We are a highly data-focused organization. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where rigorous data analytics, market intelligence, and consumer insights intersect, we want to hear from you.

Role Overview

We have ambitious growth plans for 2026 and are looking for a dynamic, target-focused Business Development Associate to join our London team as part of our core Sales function.

Based out of our Holborn office on a hybrid model (3 days in-office), you will be a key driver of top-of-funnel pipeline growth within the EMEA market. You will focus on identifying potential clients, qualifying inbound interest, and executing strategic outbound prospecting across the global beverage alcohol and broader FMCG sectors.

You will not be phased by high-volume prospecting or cold outreach. Using expert data insights, you will help prospective clients understand the commercial value IWSR's data platform brings to their strategic planning.

The Team

At IWSR and WGSN, our sales teams are made up of Business Development Associates, Account Managers, and Enterprise Directors who work collaboratively to achieve ambitious performance goals.

We are diverse, tenacious, resilient, and deeply target-driven. We sell specialized market intelligence and quantitative data to top-tier global beverage brands, emerging spirits start-ups, and institutional investors.

Key Accountabilities

• Pipeline Generation & Targets: Consistently hit and exceed outbound outreach, meeting booking, and pipeline generation targets.
• Data-Driven Outbound Prospecting: Develop and execute strategic prospecting plans via phone, email, and LinkedIn Sales Navigator to reach senior decision-makers in the beverage alcohol space.
• Inbound Lead Qualification: Rapidly follow up on and qualify high-intent inbound leads, acting as the primary point of contact for prospective customers.
• Market Intelligence Research: Use sales tools to build highly targeted lists of decision-makers across spirits, wine, beer, and low/no-alcohol sectors.
• Sales Handoff: Ensure seamless research briefing and handoff to senior Account Executives to set them up for successful discovery and demo meetings.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with marketing and IWSR data analyst teams to leverage industry reports, event leads, and regional trend data for targeted outreach.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications Required

• Language Skills: Full fluency in English is required. Fluency in French or Italian is a strong advantage (nice-to-have).
• Drive & Mindset: Highly target-focused, resilient, and competitive with a proactive approach to cold prospecting and phone outreach.
• Data & Commercial Aptitude: Comfortable working in a data-focused environment, translating market intelligence and data capabilities into clear business value.
• Communication: Exceptional written, verbal, and listening skills with the ability to navigate initial objections.
• Sales Experience: Prior experience in B2B outbound prospecting or tech/data sales is an advantage, though comprehensive training is provided.
• Tech Stack: Familiarity with CRM and sales enablement tools (e.g., Salesforce, SalesLoft, LinkedIn Sales Navigator) is a plus.