The SVP, Client Partnerships leads the account management practice in partnership with the EVP, Head of Client Partnerships; oversees several major client portfolios; and works closely with Business Development. The role is accountable for two core business outcomes: deepening and growing existing client relationships and helping develop and secure new business. The SVP serves as a trusted advisor who understands clients' business pressures, champions strong creative work, develops account talent into true partners to clients and creative teams, and brings warmth and strategic sharpness to every pitch.
Essential FunctionsPractice and Portfolio Leadership- Lead the Client Partnership practice or several major portfolios and own full P&L, including revenue, budgets, forecasts, and profitability.
- Shape Client and SBU strategy and represent the practice across the company.
- Set standards for client service, account strategy, and team performance in partnership with the EVP, Head of Client Partnerships.
- Balance client needs, practice growth, staffing capacity, and financial performance.
Client Relationships and Growth- Serve as a senior, trusted advisor to client leadership, including CMOs and executives, anticipating concerns and priorities, earning a place in important conversations such as board meetings, sales kickoffs, and strategy offsites.
- Make clients smarter, calmer, and more successful by providing strategic counsel that helps them look good to the people they answer to.
- Grow existing accounts by identifying opportunities for expanded scope and deeper partnerships, and develop account growth plans with agency leadership.
- Partner with Business Development to open doors, cultivate prospect relationships from first contact, and shape pitch strategy, process, and positioning.
- Play a leading role in major pitch presentations, building rapport and credibility with prospects making the chemistry of the agency easy to see.
- Originate new business and initiate cross-sell opportunities with other SBUs.
Financial and Agency Leadership- Understand and manage account and portfolio financial performance, including scopes, budgets, forecasts, profitability, and P&L implications, and discuss them fluently with clients and agency leadership.
- Maintain client satisfaction and account health, managing escalations, scope, and expectations with composure.
- Act as a true partner to creative, strategy, and production teams; advocate for and protect great work and the people who create it.
- Track and apply insight on how AI and emerging technology are changing client needs and agency services, and bring that perspective into client and new-business conversations.
Talent Development- Typically lead eight to ten direct reports, including other VPs.
- Recruit, mentor, and develop account-management talent; build a team that operates as strategic partners rather than order-takers.
- Develop future VPs and build a strong leadership bench through coaching, performance feedback, and career development.
Required Abilities- Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to read people quickly and earn executive-level trust.
- Business acumen that allows equally comfortable conversation about P&L, budgets, and ideas.
- Calm, steady leadership under pressure, able to manage tension and conflict with clients and internal teams.
- Strong presentation, communication, and storytelling skills, with a polished, credible presence in pitch and boardroom settings.
- Drive and energy for new business, including prospecting, relationship development, and pitch leadership.
- Genuine respect for creative work and the ability to champion it with clients and internally.
- Curiosity about AI and technology and how they change what clients need from an agency.
- Humility and a collaborative, no-ego approach that lets teammates and clients shine.
Required Education and Experience- Typically 15-20 years of agency account-management or client-partnership experience; experience range is a guide, not a minimum.
- Demonstrated success growing client accounts, originating new business, leading major pitches, and managing senior client relationships.
- Strong financial and business acumen, executive presence, presentation and storytelling skills, and calm leadership under pressure.
- Ability to build trust quickly, manage conflict, champion creative work, and lead collaboratively across teams.
