About Octagon:
Octagon is a global creative agency, with a speciality in sport and entertainment partnerships. With over 800 team members around the world, we work with brands to create big ideas that fans love and want to engage in, because it’s built in and around their passion. Where others see complexity we see possibility, and we believe in pushing authenticity, creativity, and longevity to do great things in the industry that lead the market.
As part of the extended family, the Octagon Sports & Entertainment network agencies provide complementary expert services in the area of content production, data analytics, sustainability and PR to help deliver on our brand promise.
Our Values:
Our values; empowerment, intelligence, inclusivity, innovation and impact, guide our behaviours as people and shape the way that we operate as a team. As the most senior member of the organisation in APAC, you will find ways to embody these in your own job as well as provide leadership and oversight on how those values come to life in all our staff and how we collectively operate.
About the Role:
The Interim Managing Director, role represents a senior leadership position in our local market operation. They are responsible for representing our organization internally and externally at the highest level and manage and inspire a team of diverse professionals that produces brilliant creative work for our clients. They have the foresight for long-term planning, setting the vison and strategy of the business and sound financial forecasting. They manage the local P&L and ensure structures and systems are in place to produce work efficiently and profitably. The Managing Director sets the tone in building a workplace that is flexible, diverse and inclusive to allow staff to excel and progress in a changing operating environment and builds a culture that is the envy of our industry and attracts the best talent. They are proven collaborators who can spot and connect opportunities to work with our sister agencies across the regions. Furthermore, they oversee the agency’s drive to broaden their client roster and build our brand and reputation in the local market.
Additionally, they will have selected cross-regional responsibilities as part of their regional Mgt. Team remit and report to the MD, APAC (Singapore-based).
Responsibilities
Responsibilities for the MD include:
Business Planning & Strategy
- Develop business plan that sets long-term strategic direction, vision and priorities for business unit, in line with global and regional business plans
- Drive continued evolution towards a Global Creative Agency and implement global transformation/restructure
- Determine overall shape of business to deliver on business plan, and associated talent/skill gaps & requirements
- Prepare financial forecasts and periodic updates in line with IPG reporting schedules
Business Operations & Management
- Manage budget/P&L on an on-going basis, including revenue, OPEX and staff expenses
- Drive financial profitability and efficiencies, and corresponding procedures to ensure financial compliance
- Identify and improve efficiencies in overall agency workflows (work output, financial, new business, etc.)
- Ensure operational compliance with local & internal IPG policies, regulations & legislature
Work Product & Output
- Oversee delivery of all client deliverables to expected quality standards
- Manage evolution of products, tools and service offerings in line with changing needs of the industry and client requirements in collaboration with global colleagues.
New Busines and PR
- Develop and oversee implementation of local new business and go-to-market strategy
- Foster industry relationships and proactively unearth new business opportunities
- Oversee execution of local pitch opportunities
- Articulate an Octagon brand story based on global direction
- In collaboration with the regional Mgt Team, develop and implement a marketing plan to raise Octagon’s presence in market
Collaboration
- Serve as point person for local business units to drive local efficiencies and collaboration opportunities
- Develop relationships with peers at local and regional IPG agencies to explore joint open architecture opportunities
- Work with global Octagon teams as required to drive work output and/or local implementation of global policies
Team & Talent Management
- Drive development of a culture and workplace that is diverse, inclusive and productive
- Identify staffing needs & oversee recruitment where applicable
- Project and track local staff capacity and identify appropriate models to address capacity and/or skill shortages and needs
- Oversee talent development & performance appraisal process
- Identify training requirements and appropriate programs
Regional & Global representation & assignments
- Represent the business needs and interests on a regional Mgt. Team level
- Contribute to overall regional planning process and on-going management as needed
- Assume other regional & global projects/responsibilities as assigned/agreed on an ad-hoc basis
About You:
- 15+ years of relevant experience
- Have a passion for and experience in brilliant creative work, ideally through partnerships in the sport and entertainment space
- Deep understanding of workings of a creative agency, required specialties/skills and procedures to create brilliant work consistently
- Inspiring leadership & people management skills, inclusive leader with experience in working with diverse groups and across different markets
- A brilliant communicator, able to articulate ideas, requirements, and expectations across all levels
- Proven track record in successfully building teams and businesses
- Excellent network and profile across the broader marketing & communications eco-system, including brands, agencies, publications, etc. Relationships in the sport & entertainment space a plus (rightsholders, federations, clubs, etc.)
