Managing Director

About distillery
Ready to make your mark? We are distillery; a global independent creative practice, trusted by world-leading B2B organisations to deliver tangible value through our marketing specialisms. Our purpose is to empower ambitious business leaders and marketers to make a difference. We achieve this through compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to achieve outstanding results every time.
The Role
Our Managing Director, North America is the primary architect of our success, our growth and our excellence across the region. This is a high-impact, hands‑on leadership role with full accountability for the region’s people, operations, profitability, and prestige.
You will be responsible for transforming our North American business into an industry‑leading business while ensuring our creative delivery remains world‑class.
How You Will Make Your Mark

High-Performance Culture: Act as the ultimate steward of distillery’s values in North America, building a multidisciplinary team that balances creativity with professional rigour.
Mentorship & Succession: Directly manage and coach the management team, fostering a culture of accountability and empowering the next generation of distillery leaders.
Global Collaboration: Partner seamlessly with the CEO and regional Managing Director to ensure North America is both a regional powerhouse and a vital contributor to our global strategy.

2. Commercial Operations & Industry-Leading Profitability

P&L Mastery: Take full ownership of the North American P&L, moving beyond revenue growth to focus on achieving industry-leading net profit margins.
Operational Discipline: Implement rigorous financial controls, overseeing budgeting, forecasting, and resource utilisation to ensure every project contributes to the bottom line.
Commercial Strategy: Design and execute pricing models and commercial frameworks that reflect the premium value of our work while maintaining a lean, efficient operation.
Deep Client Relationships: Leverage your extensive experience to act as a senior strategic advisor for our most significant regional accounts, moving from "vendor" to "indispensable partner."
Sustainable Expansion: Lead high-stakes business development efforts, focusing on winning long-term, high-margin partnerships rather than transactional projects.
Market Ambassadorship: Represent distillery as a thought leader in the North American market, elevating our brand presence to attract top-tier global clients and Fortune 500 brands.

4. Delivery Excellence & Operational Rigour

Gold-Standard Governance: Establish and oversee world-class delivery frameworks, ensuring every project is executed on time, on budget, and to an impeccable standard.
Process Innovation: Champion the use of AI, automation, and refined workflows to increase delivery speed and quality without inflating costs.
Risk Mitigation: Provide executive oversight on "pillar" projects, identifying potential delivery risks early and instilling a culture of continuous improvement through post-project analysis.

What You Will Bring to Make Your Mark

Seasoned Leadership: Significant experience leading a consultancy, agency, or professional services firm at the Managing Director or General Manager level.
Commercial Edge: A proven track record of managing a P&L and successfully driving a business toward high profitability targets.
Client Mastery: Deep expertise in managing and growing complex, multi-market client accounts within the North American region.
Operational Acumen: A sharp eye for delivery processes, resource management, and the "mechanics" of a successful creative business.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: The ability to operate strategically at the board level while remaining "hands-on" enough to fix operational bottlenecks and lead pitches.

Reports to: CEO Location: San Francisco (Hybrid 2-3 days per week)
Benefits & Culture

Competitive Salary: Remuneration that recognizes your senior expertise and commercial impact
Rest & Recharge: 22 days of annual leave plus public holidays
Global Impact: The opportunity to shape a rapidly growing independent agency with a commitment to humanity and transparency
D&I: Join a leadership team where 75% of roles are held by women and diversity is woven into our creative DNA

Note
This role requires a minimum of 2-3 days per week in our San Francisco office and will require flexibility to collaborate with our Singapore, London, and Dubai teams across various time zones.
Learn more about distillery: www.wearedistillery.com
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