Senior Vice President, Data, Technology & Analytics

SVP, DATA, TECH & ANALYTICS (UK Government) 

About WPP Media
WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com
WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

About our Data, Tech and Analytics Division

We’re on a mission to transform marketing by building the fastest, most connected data platform that bridges marketing strategy to scaled activation. We work with agencies and clients to transform the value of data by bringing together technology, data and analytics capabilities. We deliver this through WPP Open, an AI-enabled media and data platform for the next era of advertising. We’re endlessly curious. Our team of thinkers, builders, creators and problem solvers are over 1,000 strong, across 20 markets around the world. Our UK Data, Tech and Analytics capabilities are central to our success, empowering WPP Media’s clients with a full range of services that deliver tangible impact. This SVP role sits at the pinnacle of our dedicated offering for the UK Government, overseeing a multi-disciplined team of specialists.

Position Overview

The SVP, Data, Tech & Analytics for the UK Government Account will be the ultimate leader responsible for defining, orchestrating, and delivering WPP Media's entire data, technology, and analytics vision for this critical client. This executive will provide direct leadership and strategic integration for 20+ individuals across three disciplines - Analytics, Business Intelligence & Data Management and Data Strategy.

This role serves as the most senior strategic partner to the UK Government on all data, tech, and analytics matters, ensuring that WPP Media consistently delivers transformative solutions that drive the effectiveness of government communications. Reporting directly to Owain Wilson, EVP, Data Strategy, the SVP will hold ultimate accountability for the strategic roadmap, commercial success, operational excellence, and innovation agenda across the entire data and analytics portfolio for the UK Government.

Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategic Vision:

• Define and articulate the overarching data, tech, and analytics vision for the UK Government, ensuring alignment with their public sector objectives.
• Provide executive oversight and strategic direction to the VP Analytics, VP BI & Data Management, and VP Data Strategy, fostering seamless collaboration to deliver an integrated service.
• Drive the strategic adoption and maximisation of WPP Media's technology and data ecosystem, specifically WPP Open and Open Intelligence, and oversee the successful operation of a specific UK Government data environment that powers applications and strategic decisions.

Client Partnership:

• Act as the most senior strategic data, technology, and analytics partner to key UK Government leadership, including marketing directors, and effectiveness leads.
• Cultivate deep, trusted relationships that position WPP Media as an indispensable advisor, proactively identifying and securing opportunities for advanced data, tech, and analytics solutions.

Integrated Delivery & Operational Excellence:

• Hold ultimate accountability for the highest standards of delivery across all Data, Tech & Analytics functions, from the data ingestion and reporting infrastructure (Data Management & BI) to innovative audience architecture (Data Strategy) and end-to-end campaign evaluation (Analytics).
• Champion operational efficiency and automation across the data workflow, including the integration with the Cabinet Office’s proprietary technology.
• Ensure the effective application of AdTech and MarTech solutions to optimise campaign performance, with a clear strategy for integrating UK Government-owned technology with WPP's technology.

Innovation, Data Governance & Ethical Practice:

• Lead the innovation agenda for Data, Tech & Analytics for the UK Government, evaluating and implementing cutting-edge solutions, including defining the strategic questions and use cases for Agentic AI, and staying at the forefront of industry and academic developments.
• Instil and enforce the highest standards of data governance, privacy (e.g., GDPR), ethical data usage, and security protocols across all data operations for sensitive UK Government data.
• Act as a thought leader, representing WPP Media in key forums like the Ethics Steering Group, and elevating the discussion around responsible data and AI use in public sector communications.

Team Leadership & Talent Development:

• Lead, inspire, and empower a high-performing leadership team comprising the VP Analytics, VP BI & Data Management and VP Data Strategy.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, excellence, and innovation across the entire data, tech, and analytics function for the UK Government account.
• Attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent, building a best-in-class team capable of addressing the complex challenges of government communications.

Skills and Experience required

• Progressive experience in senior leadership roles within Data, Tech & analytics, ideally within a media agency, consultancy, or client-side marketing organisation.
• Significant exposure to public sector clients would be highly beneficial.
• A strategic, visionary, and decisive leader with a highly collaborative and adaptable approach, comfortable navigating complexity within a large global organisation.
• Demonstrated expertise in moving beyond conceptual ideas to lead the practical application of AI and Machine Learning in a media context, with a deep understanding of how to leverage technologies like Agentic AI for insight generation and operational efficiency.
• Recognised as a forward-thinker and innovator, with a demonstrable ability to stay at the forefront of AI advancements and translate them into a tangible competitive advantage and new value for clients.
• Demonstrable track record of defining and executing enterprise-level data and analytics strategies that drive significant business outcomes.
• Extensive experience leading, managing, and integrating large, multi-disciplinary teams across data strategy, business intelligence, data management, and advanced analytics.
• Exceptional executive-level client relationship management skills, with proven ability to influence and consult with C-suite and senior government stakeholders, translating complex technical and analytical concepts into compelling strategic narratives.
• Deep understanding of the media planning and buying lifecycle, and the critical role of data and technology in driving effectiveness.
• Expertise in data governance, privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR), ethical data handling, and robust security protocols, especially in a highly regulated environment.
• Strategic familiarity with modern data stacks (e.g., cloud platforms like GCP, ingestion tools like Adverity, visualisation tools like PowerBI, and data transformation tools like dbt) and data clean room technology (e.g., InfoSum).
• Strong familiarity with advanced analytics techniques (MMM, attribution, incrementality), data engineering principles, data visualisation tools, and emerging technologies like AI/Machine Learning.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, capable of engaging and inspiring diverse internal and external audiences.

Life At WPP Media & Benefits
Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.
WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around three to four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location
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While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.