Job Description
By bringing together next-gen technology and the finest live data available, Genius Sports is enabling a new era of sports for fans worldwide, delivering experiences that are more immersive, interactive and personalised than ever before. Learn more at geniussports.com
THE ROLE:
We are hiring a Vice President of Sales to own our relationship with WPP. You will be the senior face of Genius Sports across GroupM and the broader WPP family incl Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, Ogilvy, VML, Choreograph, and affiliated specialty units. You will own the number for everything Genius does inside that ecosystem.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Own and exceed the WPP holding-company revenue number, including new business across WPP brand clients and expansion of existing investments.
- Build a multi-year joint business plan with GroupM and key WPP units; align Genius commitments to WPP’s brand portfolio, tentpole moments, and product priorities.
- Personally lead the largest, most strategic deals; running discovery, ideation, pitch, negotiation, and contracting at the holdco and agency-of-record level.
- Drive activation across the full Genius product suite (Full Arc, The Moment, The Fanbase) and across every channel WPP buys: CTV, programmatic, social, audio, and DOOH.
- Build and own senior relationships across WPP; Chief Investment Officers, Group Investment Directors, Heads of Strategy, Heads of Programmatic, Connections Planning leads, and innovation/specialty practice leaders.
- Map and multi-thread the WPP organization: investment teams, planning teams, programmatic, data/specialty units (Choreograph), and brand teams at the agency-of-record level.
- Serve as the executive escalation point for WPP across all Genius products, with executive sponsorship from our SVP, Advertising and CRO.
- Coordinate with Genius leadership on joint partnership announcements, upfront commitments, and strategic co-marketing moments.
- Lead and coach a small, high-leverage support team (1–3 Account Directors / Strategic Account Managers) covering day-to-day workstreams across WPP agencies.
- Quarterback cross-functional pods inside Genius incl Marketing, Product, Ad Ops, Insights and Legal to deliver against WPP’s needs end-to-end.
- Run a tight weekly operating cadence: pipeline reviews, deal inspection, forecast calls, and account reviews grounded in deal data.
- Operate the CRM and forecast as a discipline, not a chore; deliver a forecast leadership can trust within ±10%.
- Represent Genius Sports at the WPP-attended industry moments; Cannes Lions, Possible, Advertising Week, IAB ALM and at WPP’s internal client and partner summits.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING:
- 10+ years selling advertising, ad-tech, or media to agencies, with deep experience inside the WPP ecosystem (GroupM, Mindshare, Wavemaker, EssenceMediacom, Ogilvy, VML, or affiliated units).
- Track record of owning a holding-company-level number, landing and growing eight-figure annual partnerships at a global holdco.
- Existing relationships at WPP brand clients (CPG, QSR, auto, financial services, telco).
- Strong, current senior relationships at WPP
- Demonstrable success negotiating upfront commitments, joint business plans, or master service agreements at the holdco level.
- Deep fluency in the modern media stack: CTV, programmatic, social, addressable, attention/measurement, and how WPP’s specialty units (Choreograph, GroupM Nexus) operate.
- Comfort selling complex, data-driven products. You can make signal-based, moment-based advertising feel simple to a planner who has 11 other meetings that day.
- Operating discipline: forecast accuracy, CRM (HubSpot or Salesforce), pipeline management, and a real point of view on holdco account management.
IT WILL BE A BONUS IF YOU:
- Prior experience as a holding-company lead at a major sports, media, or ad-tech company.
- Background in CTV, programmatic, or attention/outcomes-based media sales.
- Experience selling sports media, sports data, or fan-engagement products to WPP specifically.
The annualized base salary for this role ranges from $220,000 to $240,000 USD and includes eligibility for additional variable compensation. This role will also be eligible to take part in Genius Sports Group’s benefits plan.
We enjoy an ‘office-first’ culture and maximize opportunities to collaborate, connect and learn together. Our hybrid working models differ depending on your role and location.
As well as a competitive salary and range of benefits, we’re committed to supporting employee wellbeing and helping you grow your skills, experience and career. Learn more about how rewarding life at Genius can be at Reward | Genius Sports.
One team, being brave, driving change
We strive to create an inclusive working environment, where everyone feels a sense of belonging and the ability to make a difference. Learn more about our values and culture at Culture | Genius
Let us know when you apply if you need any assistance during the recruiting process due to a disability.
