Role Overview
Wilson Hartnell is seeking an exceptional and visionary Head of Sport to lead our market-leading Sports business. This pivotal role represents a key strategic growth area for the agency in 2026 and beyond. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the company’s Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Sport will be responsible for leading an award-winning team to deliver market-leading, world-class work. The successful candidate will be accountable for the practice’s commercial targets, spearhead new business development and organic growth, foster a spirit of innovation to ensure our work consistently breaks new ground, and maintain impeccable operational standards. Deep expertise across a wide range of sports, coupled with a proven ability to unlock significant value for brands by leveraging sports platforms, is essential. Additionally, and crucially, this leader will accelerate the adoption and maturation of AI within the team to create the best work of our lives.
Key Responsibilities: Strategy & Business Development
Develop, articulate, and champion a proactive growth strategy for the Sport practice, ensuring it aligns with the wider agency vision and leverages the unique strengths of the team and global network.
Design and execute a robust business development programme focused on identifying and securing new, significant, and potentially unchartered revenue streams from both new and existing clients.
Drive sustained organic growth within the existing client portfolio, identifying opportunities for expanded services and innovative solutions.
Proactively identify and pursue new business opportunities within and across Wilson Hartnell and Ogilvy and WPP network offices and practice areas.
Provide visionary leadership in developing and presenting compelling new business programmes and proposals, positioning Wilson Hartnell as the definitive choice in sports marketing.
Ensure the team contributes innovative and strategic ideas, recommendations, and concepts that differentiate our proposals.
Present and discuss the agency’s capabilities with authority, grounded in deep knowledge of industry cases, products, and services within the sports sector.
Represent and profile the agency’s capabilities at industry events, in thought leadership and speaking opportunities.
Leadership & People Management
Lead, inspire, and mentor an award-winning team, fostering a high-performance culture that values creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Act as a positive influence, role model, and mentor for direct reports and the wider agency, investing in their professional growth and development.
Be heavily involved in the recruitment of top-tier talent, ensuring the practice is optimally resourced and capabilities continuously enhanced.
Manage performance appraisals, provide constructive feedback, and identify strengths and development areas for team members, nurturing their career paths.
Ensure that the team robustly engages in the company’s career conversation tool to enable their growth and development.
Apply best practice thinking and solution to empower the team and individuals to achieve their full potential.
Delegate effectively, empowering team members while maintaining oversight of quality and adherence to strategic objectives.
Cultivate strong, trusted relationships with senior clients, positioning oneself as a key advisor and industry leader.
Successfully manage any people related issues that may arise in a timely fashion.
Ensure the team lives and embraces the company values.
Manage staff to maximise productivity and individual, team, and financial performance.
Commercial Performance & Financial Management
Accountable for developing, delivering, and exceeding the annual commercial targets for the Sport practice.
Ensure that commercial ratios and profitability are consistently maintained in line with annual targets.
Develop accurate project budgets, monitor financial performance effectively, and oversee the timely development and distribution of invoices and activity reports.
Contribute robustly to agency-wide financial forecasting and projections.
Ensure all team members meet their individual billing targets and strictly adhere to company financial policies and procedures.
Be fully aware of, and understand, our contractual agreements and their impact on consultancy procedures and client engagement.
Innovation & World-Class Work
Champion a culture of innovation, ensuring that our work consistently breaks new ground, challenges conventions, and stands out amongst the competition.
Spearhead the strategic adoption and maturation of AI on the team, identifying and implementing cutting‑edge tools and methodologies to enhance creative output, drive efficiencies, gain deeper insights, and ultimately help us create the best work of our lives.
Oversee the development and execution of marketing‑leading, world‑class campaigns that deliver measurable and transformative impact for clients within the sports landscape.
Ensure all brand activity follows agreed strategic objectives and leverages the unique power and reach of diverse sports platforms.
Operations & Governance
Ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the Sport practice in full accordance with company policies, procedures, and proper governance.
Routinely develop and implement effective solutions where problems or challenges arise, leveraging the talents of colleagues when appropriate.
Direct and facilitate effective contributions to team, staff, and client meetings.
Embody the values of Wilson Hartnell in day‑to‑day behaviour.
Continuously seek new ways to learn and improve both personally and for the practice.
Client & Account Management
Act as the client’s primary strategic contact for key accounts, ensuring that agency points of contact grow over time and clients are comfortable engaging with more junior staff on day‑to‑day matters.
Develop and manage complex projects and/or year‑long client programmes, including comprehensive implementation plans, robust evaluation mechanisms, strategic staffing plans, budgets, and timelines.
Ensure compliance with industry guidelines and regulations and keep up to date with the changing regulatory environment and its implications on our work and what and how we deliver for clients.
Possess a demonstrable ability to unlock significant value for brands by expertly leveraging diverse sports platforms to achieve their specific business objectives.
Set and manage client expectations proactively and effectively.
Lead and input into a portfolio of key accounts or major projects, directing the delegation of the day‑to‑day work.
Develop and deliver highly impactful presentations for clients, integrating creative, strategic, and tactical elements.
Anticipate and lead the resolution of emerging account problems or challenges, maintaining client satisfaction and loyalty.
Be experience and well versed in the core competency areas of strategy development, media relations, influencer marketing, social campaign and integrated marketing.
Sports Expertise & Industry Leadership
Possess demonstrable and extensive expertise across a wide range of sports, with an in‑depth understanding of the global, national, and local sports landscape.
Apply specialised sports industry expertise and insights to all client work, strategy development, and new business initiatives.
Develop and guide clients’ plan and activities within the dynamic sports arena.
Establish and maintain a strong, extensive network of general and specialised contacts within the sports industry (e.g., federations, governing bodies, clubs, athletes, agents, media, brands, sponsors).
Has an excellent understanding of the Irish sports landscape backed up by a strong point of view that will resonate with clients.
Crisis & Issues Management
Highly experienced in crisis and issues management within a high profile sports context.
Capable of preparing and regularly updating pre‑emptive crisis and issues management materials (e.g., call‑out procedures, holding statements, crisis media management plans).
Act as the primary contact for the senior leadership teams of our client businesses when handling sensitive or high‑profile crisis/issue management situations in sport.
Professional Skills & Experience
Strategic & Commercial Acumen: Proven track record of strategic leadership and significant commercial growth within a market‑leading sports marketing, PR, or communications agency/business. Direct accountability for delivering and exceeding financial targets.
Business Development Mastery: Exceptional business development skills with a history of securing significant new revenue streams and fostering robust organic client growth.
Sports Industry Expertise: Demonstrable and deep expertise across a wide range of sports, coupled with a sophisticated understanding of how to unlock value for brands by leveraging sports platforms to achieve specific business objectives.
Innovation & AI Leadership: A visionary leader with a profound passion for innovation, specifically in spearheading the adoption and strategic application of AI within creative and strategic communications to drive competitive advantage.
Client Relationship Management: Highly skilled in building and nurturing senior client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and strategic partner.
Leadership & Development: Outstanding leadership, mentoring, and people management skills, with a proven ability to motivate, develop, and retain high‑performing, award‑winning teams.
Communication & Influence: Excellent presentation, negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to influence and inspire diverse internal and external audiences.
Operational Excellence: An understanding of operational best practices and proper governance within a professional services environment.
Analytics & Evaluation: Familiarity with PR evaluation tools, measurement methodologies, and data analytics relevant to the sports sector.
Personal Attributes: A positive influence, displaying the highest levels of professionalism, integrity, work ethic, and alignment with Wilson Hartnell’s values.
CEO Alignment: Proven ability to work closely with the CEO, ensuring strategic thinking is closely aligned and mutually supported.
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