Purpose of the Job
We are recruiting an experienced Managing Director (MD) in India to develop and lead a high performing team to support the growth of both domestic and international clients.
The Managing Director is accountable for working with the Group Management Board to shape and deliver the country's growth agenda, ensuring the operation, talent, and leadership capability are fit for the future needs of the market and our clients.
The successful candidate will have a deep knowledge of the local market, outstanding client engagement skills, and the ability to identify, attract and lead high performing talent. They will have over 10 years experience in marketing activation and in that time will have developed an extensive local network.
This role requires a dynamic leader who thrives in a matrixed environment, is fluent in English and Hindi and is passionate about building strong, cohesive teams that deliver exceptional results.
Key Responsibilities
Client Engagement
- Working closely with our global client leaders, the MD will develop and deliver local engagement strategies for our international clients.
- The MD will identify domestic client opportunities and effectively utilize our global and domestic resources to pursue these.
- The MD will serve as a local escalation resource for clients where cultural and language nuances are required to supplement Chief Client Officers; Vice Presidents, Client Engagement and Global Account Directors in addressing identified risks or gaps in delivery of client expectations.
- They will also partner with Client Engagement Operating and Support functions to ensure stability post-implementation of new client contracts in the country.
Operational excellence + compliance
- Proactively identify and resolve operational hot spots across the country, partnering with Client Engagement, Operations Business Partners and the Global Operational Excellence team to deliver consistent, high-caliber results that reflect our commitment to excellence.
- Monitor and interpret key performance metrics to surface insights, driving a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational discipline aligned with our pursuit of exceptional standards.
- Act as the country's escalation point for complex operational challenges, navigating cross-functional dynamics with transparency and trust to ensure swift, values-based resolution.
- Partner with Internal Audit to lead investigations and address areas of concern, maintaining full integrity in all actions and fostering a culture where ethical conduct is non-negotiable.
- Drive supplier relationship strategies that are anchored in fairness and commercial rigor, ensuring strict adherence to operational best practices and reinforcing our reputation as a trusted business partner.
Local market leadership + colleague engagement
- This role demands a leader with a proven ability to navigate complex, matrixed organizations while driving impact across diverse cultural landscapes. Fluency in English and Hindi is essential to foster deep connections and lead cross-functional teams. The successful candidate is a catalyst for cohesion, known for inspiring teams to exceed expectations and delivering strategic results in fast-paced environments.
- Champion company's values and culture, fostering a sense of belonging, pride and open communication.
- Lead initiatives that enhance morale, engagement and connectivity between local teams and global colleagues.
- Organize and lead local events, village halls and team-building activities to strengthen cohesion and communication.
- Lead root cause analysis and resolution planning, ensuring sustainable improvements and knowledge sharing.
- Ensure effective communication of policies, training and initiatives to maximize understanding and engagement.
- Develop and implement innovative communication strategies to keep local teams informed and aligned.
Knowledge, Skills + Experience
- +10 years of experience in client engagement and general management in senior roles within multinational organisations.
- Proven track record of driving growth, operational excellence, and cultural transformation in complex, matrixed organizations.
- Fluency in English and Hindi required.
- Strong in-country network
- Strong understanding of sourcing, supplier management, and operational reporting.
- Strong understanding and experience with the services and sectors we support.
- Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
- Deep cultural awareness and ability to lead across diverse teams and geographies.
- Passion for people, performance, and continuous improvement.
