Head of Influence & Social

Who we are:

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com 

For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

More about the role:

This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior industry leader and growth driver to build and lead Burson's UK Influence & Social Centre of Excellence - the central hub for our EMEA region and one of three global hubs alongside the US and Singapore. Sitting on the UK Strategic Leadership Group, you will execute our regional and global strategy to realise ambitious commercial growth over the next three years.

In this role, you will hold P&L accountability for the capability, shape our go-to-market Total Influence proposition across all practices, advise senior clients, and lead high-profile integrated pitches. Working within a multi-disciplinary ecosystem (creative, strategy, data, and intelligence), you will put in place the operating model, toolsets, and measurement frameworks that enable the UK market to deliver client work disruptively, consistently, compliantly, and at scale.

Reporting to the UK CEO with a matrix link to the EMEA Head of Influence & Social, you will partner closely with practice leaders and WPP network counterparts across three core pillars:

• Commercialise & Grow (establishing the UK Centre of Excellence, high-priority new business, thought leadership, award-winning creative output)


• Enable & Operationalise (total Influence model rollout, practice upskilling, platform partnerships, AI & tech stack integration)


• Transform & Innovate (WPP network integration, sector-tailored offers, modernised measurement, market horizon scanning)

What you'll do:

• Build and lead the UK Influence & Social Centre of Excellence - our EMEA hub - developing the operational plan, strategy, and team structure to drive 3-year growth ambitions.


• Lead high-priority new business pitches and organic growth opportunities across UK practices and EMEA markets, establishing Burson's Total Influence proposition in the market.


• Drive agency elevation and thought leadership, curating best-in-class social and influencer campaigns, marketing assets, and credentials to showcase industry-leading creative output.


• Implement the Total Influence operating model across the UK, capturing feedback, tracking adoption, and continuously refining cross-practice delivery workflows.


• Upskill practice teams on cultural trends, influencer strategies, and AI capabilities, leveraging both Burson's proprietary AI suite and WPP Open tools.


• Manage strategic relationships with key social platforms (TikTok, Meta) and core tech stack partners (CreatorIQ) to keep Burson ahead of emerging feature developments.


• Collaborate with sector leads (Healthcare, Corporate, Brand, Tech, Sports) to create tailored Total Influence offers that unlock growth across all client practices.


• Transform influencer measurement and strategy in partnership with Insights & Intelligence, leveraging WPP network opportunities and horizon scanning to capture unique whitespace.

Experience that contributes to success:

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