Managing Director

We are Africa’s most prodigious media, marketing, communications and advertising powerhouse. Our business represents the best of African creativity, celebrating where we come from and the expression and voices of our people.

Through the power of collective creativity and the continent’s best talent, we elevate brand value across every marketing vertical.

We are part of one of the largest advertising and communications groups on the planet, Publicis Groupe – which employs over 100,000 people across more than 100 countries. Publicis Groupe has made a name for itself by putting its people first.

We, at Publicis Groupe Africa, are no different. With over 60 agencies across 36 countries on the continent, there’s no better place to grow a rewarding career in media, communications, marketing or advertising in Africa.

This role is responsible for guiding and developing the overall strategic direction of the business as well as landing and articulating the vision for the future-fit growth of the agency and its clients. The Managing Director will play an integral role in the leadership of the senior team through strategic input and expertise with an ambition to plan, manage and oversee the successful integration of capabilities and ultimately the transformation of the agency.

Our business ambition is to execute work at an awards-worthy level and deliver end-to-end best-in-class digital solutions to our clients.

Role Key Performance Areas:

Business Development

• Lead & contribute towards new business development and pitch management
• Collaborate with other Groupe agencies to cross sell
• Contribute to the re-purposed offer value proposition and building of new capabilities (Media, data & digital delivery)

Strategic Relationships with Key Clients

• Manage strategic client relationships
• Maintain product excellence and delivery against client expectations
• Set and maintain quality standards in the agency
• Running certain scale of business billings
• Professional yet friendly relationship
• Positive client feedback/evaluations
• Good understanding of client environment and needs
• Client adopts ideas presented and/or suggested

Revenue Growth & Profitability

• Workforce planning & forecasting to identify & implement resource & infrastructure optimization opportunities, systems and ways of working
• Identification & implementation of best practice (both directions)
• Drive efficiencies, economies of scale & resource optimization
• Oversee budgeting and the implementation of budgets in conjunction with the Financial Director
• Closely monitoring the operating and financial results against plans and budgets
• Manage margins and operational costs
• Strategically resourcing the business to meet targets and maintain margins

 Talent

• Undertake ongoing monitoring/assessment of best-practice in the category, and the opportunity for adoption of best-practice
• Attract, retain, and grow the best talent in the industry
• Support knowledge transfer, knowledge sharing and up skilling through relevant & appropriate learning/teaching channels
• Professional maturity to effectively collaborate with other agencies (e.g., Media, ATL etc.) partners.
• Managing performance of the client service team and ensuring that the Groupe’s disciplinary processes are followed if necessary
• Abide by Groupe policies and talent processes
• Ensuring staff compliance with Groupe policies and processes

Operational Excellence:

• Monitor the workflow process of your team
• Keep abreast of international innovations: technical and operational
• Optimize internal and external resource allocation and utilization
• Scope projects from a resourcing, cost, and timing point of view.
• Develop teams to create and seamlessly deliver integrated campaigns.
• Ensure implementation and achievement of standards of excellence
• Ensure accountability
• Develop and maintain interfaces with other Groupe agencies and/or practices
• Review progress and take corrective action to ensure performance across all clients

• Relevant post graduate degree in business or commercial.
• Tertiary qualifications within the advertising industry essential. 
• At least 10 years of relevant experience the advertising or marketing industry and at least 5 years of experience in a leadership capacity.
• The candidate needs to demonstrate ability to lead in all areas of Digital Communication and Technology: Digital Experience, Digital Media and Technology
• Solid writing, speaking & presenting skills in English.
• Management of people
• High levels of operational excellence

Qualities

• Strong self-starter and independent thinker, but adept at working within a team structure.
• Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal.
• People skills that will inspire the confidence of our clients and build trust with client, agency and executional teams.
• Ability to adapt works style to needs of various clients and internal / external agency teams.
• Ability to navigate organizations and proactively chase down answers.
• Ability to analyse organizational and process challenges, and to recommend improvements.
• Balance both creative quality and financial responsibility.
• Ability to resolve conflict through diplomacy, empathy and understanding.
• Can work under pressure with the ability to communicate well.

Critical Skills:

Leadership:

Being someone who is respected in the industry and seen to be at the helm by clients, peers and the team. Effective leaders take a personal interest in the long-term development of their companies and employees, driving both to achieve their best.

Change Agent:

Change agents provide both the technical know-how and the social support needed the organization to learn and adopt new lean practices. Change agents use their knowledge and contacts to detect and diffuse challenges that might otherwise threaten to derail transformation efforts.

Communication, Connector & Collaborator

Through communication everyone feels their voice is being heard and it is one of the best ways to create a culture where everyone feels valued. 

Connecting effectively with others builds strong bonds that develop loyalty, weather difficulties, and help the team succeed as a whole. 

Collaboration leads to best leverage the talents of others and foster an environment where people feel safe to express their ideas.

Got what it takes? We’d love to hear from you.

Candidates must please submit a concise resume. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks after submitting your application, please consider your application as unsuccessful.

Publicis Groupe is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and prohibits any forms of Discrimination or Harassment. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our employees in line with our Employment Equity Plan. All appointments will be based on qualifications, experience and best fit but preference will be given to all candidates from designated groups.