Associate Director, Commerce

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 . 3132 - Associate 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. Summary and Impact The Role: We are seeking an experienced Commerce Associate Director to join the growing community in WPP Media's Commerce Practice. This is a senior leadership role within the practice, responsible for shaping commerce strategy, not just retail media execution, for a portfolio of leading global and regional brands across sectors including technology, FMCG, retail, and beauty. You will act as a trusted commerce advisor to clients, connecting media investment to the broader path-to-purchase and helping shape multi-year commerce roadmaps. The 3 Best Things About the Job: The opportunity to shape genuine commerce strategy, not just retail media execution, across a diverse portfolio of well-known brands with a shared desire for innovation and growth. Working within a truly collaborative agency model with great opportunities for continued cross-media and performance marketing learning. A talented team supporting each other in implementing best-in-class, award-winning campaigns, and having fun along the way. Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Client Growth Act as the senior strategic lead for key client accounts, translating complex business objectives into high-impact commerce media strategies across Amazon Sponsored Ads, Amazon DSP, CitrusAd, Criteo, Kevel, and other relevant retail media platforms. Lead senior client business reviews, providing a clear narrative on the holistic impact of media investment. Act as a trusted advisor to clients, identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and expanded scope across the commerce ecosystem. Campaign Excellence & Innovation Oversee the development and execution of performance-driven media plans, ensuring the highest standards of QA, pacing, and optimisation across your portfolio of accounts. Develop and champion test-and-learn roadmaps to drive innovation in targeting, bidding strategies, and emerging retail media formats. Collaborate closely with wider internal teams to ensure a joined-up, full-funnel approach to media across all client accounts. Team Leadership & Practice Evolution Line manage, mentor, and develop a team of and activation specialists, setting the standard for quality, delivery, and professional growth. Take ultimate responsibility for the quality of work delivered by your team, ensuring consistency and excellence across all accounts. Proactively contribute to the evolution of best practice within the wider eCommerce Practice, sharing successes and learnings across the team. Manage scope, forecasting, budgets, and profitability across your portfolio of accounts, and drive process automation through the adoption of new 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 Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise . About you A proven media agency background, with significant senior experience in Commerce and retail media strategy or a transferable media channel. Strong hands-on experience running campaigns in Amazon Sponsored Ads and DSP. Solid working knowledge of CitrusAd and Criteo (onsite and offsite retail media). Confidence managing senior client stakeholders, simplifying complex performance results into clear, actionable recommendations. A genuine passion for coaching and buildin…