Account Director

Hogarth is the Global Content Experience Company. Part of WPP, Hogarth partners with one in every two of the world’s top 100 brands including Coca-Cola, Ford, Rolex, Nestlé, Mondelez and Dyson. With a breadth of experience across an extensive range of sectors, Hogarth offers the unrivaled ability to deliver relevant, engaging, and measurable content across all channels and media - both established and emerging. The number of channels at our fingertips; the need for speed; and the drive for mass personalisation, all mean that brands need different solutions. Our global team of over 7,500 craft and technology experts brings together creative, production and innovation to help clients navigate this exciting and ever-changing world of today’s content experience. We have embraced a hybrid working model, which allows our employees to split their time between the office and other locations. The expectation is that working life at Hogarth will involve working from the office for an average of 4 days per week for most people. Please speak to the Talent Acquisition team to find out more information. What does an Account Director do at Hogarth? We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Account Director to join our dynamic team. As an Account Director, you will be responsible for the overall management of key client accounts, leading and developing a team, and contributing to the growth of our business. You will be the primary point of contact for client and internal escalations, ensuring smooth and efficient operations while fostering strong, long-lasting relationships. This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong understanding of integrated campaigns, particularly in the video production space, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Reporting lines and key stakeholders: This role reports to the Production Lead/Group Account Director - Johannesburg. You will work closely with the Johannesburg and Cape Town teams. Key Responsibilities: Client Account Management: Assume overall responsibility for the successful management of assigned client accounts. Develop and maintain strong relationships with key client stakeholders, managing their perceptions and expectations. Act as the primary point of contact for client escalations, proactively resolving issues and communicating effectively. Understand and adhere to contractual obligations, commercial arrangements, and SLAs. Liaise with Print Production/Broadcast teams to ensure client requirements are met and resolve any issues or complaints to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. Maintain a deep understanding of the client, agency, and Hogarth relationships and how they interact. Coach and develop team members to ensure their success through personalized development plans. Provide guidance and support to team members in their day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. Foster a collaborative and positive team environment. Business Growth & Financial Management: Support the Group Account Director (GAD) in identifying and pursuing new business opportunities. Work closely with the GAD on P&L management, forecasting, and budgeting. Prepare cost estimates and support the SAM/AM in their cost estimation process, providing final sign-off. Operational Excellence: Make informed decisions and solve problems based on sound knowledge and experience. Work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines. Understand the technical elements of video production, including formats, delivery options, uploads, compression, and web platforms (YouTube, etc.). Possess knowledge of the editing and post-production process for video. Qualifications & Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in Client Service. Minimum 2-3 years of experience as an Account Director leading a team. Relevant tertiary qualification. Experience working with/for a production facility is a strong advantage. Experience working with/for an advertising agency is a strong advantage. Proven experience working on integrated campaigns (Print, Digital, and Video) is essential. High level of IT literacy, including proficiency in spreadsheet software. Excellent prioritization, time management, and attention to detail. Resilience and the ability to work effectively under pressure. Fluent oral and written English is essential; other languages are desirable. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Highly organized, detail-oriented, customer-focused, and proactive. Clear understanding of international brand challenges. Skills: Client Relationship Management Financial Management (P&L, Budgeting, Forecasting) Problem-Solving & Decision-Making Project Management Technical Understanding of Video Production Integrated Campaign Management Diversity & Inclusion Hogarth is an equal-opportunity employer. That means we believe in creating a truly inclusive culture that values diversity, equity and inclusion for everyone through our ideas, our people, how we behave and how we conduct ourselves. We strive to recruit people from diverse backgrounds and support them to achieve long-term success. This not only makes Hogarth a better company and place to work, but an environment where everyone can give their point of view, experience connection, enjoy opportunity and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or belief, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, military veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability. As part of our commitment to making our hiring processes as equitable as possible, we are currently rolling out a policy which ensures that hiring managers review CVs only after they have been processed through an automated anonymisation system. This aims to ensure that all candidates are considered for interview based solely on their experience and what they can bring to the role. The solution, provided by MeVitae, scans and redacts CVs to reduce potential reviewer bias. We rely on legitimate interest as a legal basis for processing personal information under the GDPR for purposes of recruitment and applications for employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr