Associate Director, Creative Strategy – Sports & Entertainment (Marketing)

Location: London, United Kingdom; hybrid, with teams in the office around four days a week. This is a UK-based role and requires the right to work in the UK.

Company

hirify.global is WPP’s AI-driven media operating unit, combining media, data, partnerships, and creative personalisation to help leading brands deliver growth.

What you will do

• Lead insight-driven creative strategies and define clear creative territories for brands.
• Research consumer behaviour, cultural shifts, social platforms, and emerging technologies to identify opportunities.
• Develop channel-agnostic ideas with creative, partnership, media, and specialist teams across sport, music, gaming, fashion, and entertainment.
• Connect client briefs with relevant platforms, talent, rights holders, broadcasters, and creators.
• Own senior day-to-day client relationships, deliver strategic presentations and pitches, and support organic business growth.
• Mentor junior strategists and upskill the wider agency team in insight generation, territory development, and brief writing.

Requirements

• Experience in creative strategy, brand planning, or partnership planning within an agency, media owner, sports, or entertainment business.
• Proven ability to take projects from client brief through insight development and strategic territory mapping to creative execution.
• Deep understanding of branded entertainment, sport, gaming, and cultural marketing.
• Strong collaboration skills for multidisciplinary, integrated campaigns.
• Experience managing or mentoring junior team members.
• Exceptional client-facing communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid working with regular in-office collaboration and events.
• Inclusive environment focused on trust, respect, creativity, and professional growth.
• Access to global hirify.global and WPP networks, learning opportunities, and professional connections.
• Medical, vision, dental, and group retirement benefits.
• Paid time off, partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.