AVP, SEO MENA

The role

Lead the regional SEO practice for MENA, running its business, evolving its SEO offering, and building its team. The role also drives new business and works closely with other WPP Media practices.

What you will do

• Set the regional vision, strategy and annual operating plan for SEO.
• Own the practice's revenue, profitability, forecasting, utilization and growth targets.
• Define and advance the regional SEO proposition and product roadmap.
• Lead the evolution of SEO in response to AI-generated search and changing user behavior.
• Lead, coach and develop the regional SEO leadership team and wider department.
• Attract, hire, retain and develop high-caliber SEO talent at all levels.
• Take an active leadership role in regional business development, pitches and RFPs.
• Build strong relationships with senior client stakeholders and act as executive escalation point.
• Integrate SEO with content, paid media, data, technology, UX, creative, CRM, social and PR teams.
• Represent SEO in senior regional leadership forums and contribute to broader business strategy.

Required qualifications

• Significant experience in SEO, organic growth, digital marketing or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading a substantial SEO team, department, regional practice or business unit.
• Strong understanding of modern SEO across technical, content, authority, analytics and commercial dimensions.
• A clear perspective on the future of search, including generative AI and AI Overviews.
• Experience contributing to an operating plan, revenue target, margin target or similar commercial responsibilities.
• A track record of winning and growing enterprise or high-value client relationships.
• Experience developing products, propositions, methodologies or scalable service offerings.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to influence clients, internal leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
• A proven record of hiring, developing and motivating high-performing talent.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation and commercial skills.
• The ability to operate strategically while maintaining sufficient knowledge of delivery realities and technical detail.
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial and pragmatic leadership style.

About the company

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data and partnerships. It works through the WPP Open platform to help clients see where and why their media investment is working.