Strategy Leader

Company description Publicis Groupe is a global leader in communication, founded in 1926. Positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, Publicis Groupe combines marketing transformation with digital business transformation. Publicis Groupe is a privileged partner in its clients’ transformation to enhance personalization at scale. The Groupe relies on several areas of expertise concentrated within four primary activities: Communication, Media, Data and Technology. Through a unified and fluid organization, our clients enjoy facilitated access to its expertise in every market. We have more than 200 capabilities globally including creative, media, digital, tech, data, commerce, content, health, B2B, experiential, OOH, Design, production and more. Present in over 100 countries, Publicis Groupe employs around 103,000 professionals. With our impetus on technology, the Groupe helps large corporations and brands succeed in a digital and data first world and its key clients include Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Marico, GSK, Hero, Renault, Bajaj, ITC etc. To strengthen our tech and data capabilities, the Groupe acquired Sapient in 2015 and Epsilon in 2019 respectively. As a Connecting Company, we are able to deliver as the Power of One - driven by a common purpose, a powerful spirit, shared behaviors, great character and a relentless focus on our clients. Publicis Groupe South Asia is an integral part of Publicis Groupe. With operations in India and Sri Lanka, we have 4000+ employees. We have presence across 9 agency brands and multiple specialist units across Data, Commerce, Content, Production, Health, B2B, Experiential/Shopper marketing amongst others. Between the various company brands and practices there are 700+ clients. The company brands include Leo, Performics, Publicis, Digitas, Saatchi, Starcom, Indigo Consulting, MSL, Zenith, and BBH. In addition, we have set up large outsourcing hubs catering to Media-tech and production for global clients. Publicis Groupe South Asia is led by Anupriya Acharya, Group CEO. She oversees all group companies. Anupriya is from IIT Roorkee, has vast leadership experience across India and the APAC region. She is also the President of AAAI, besides being on several industry forums. She is the only woman leader of a global communications group in India and is supported by several senior and accomplished business professionals in charge of individual agencies, functions and practices. Overview We are seeking a seasoned Strategy Leader to drive transformative, insight-led growth for clients in an increasingly complex and data-driven media ecosystem. This role goes beyond traditional media strategy—requiring a consulting-first mindset, deep business acumen, and the ability to influence C-suite stakeholders. You will act as a strategic advisor to clients, shaping business outcomes through integrated thinking across media, data, technology, and consumer insight. Internally, you will be a thought leader and capability builder, elevating the strategic product of Spark Foundry India. Responsibilities 1. Strategic Leadership & Client Impact Lead the development of end-to-end communication and growth strategies aligned to client business objectives Translate macro trends, category dynamics, and consumer behavior into actionable strategic frameworks Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders (CMOs, CEOs) Drive transformational mandates including brand repositioning, go-to-market strategy, and media modernization 2. Consulting-Led Problem Solving Apply structured problem-solving approaches (hypothesis-driven, MECE frameworks) to solve complex business challenges Lead strategic interventions across: Market entry / expansion Portfolio & brand architecture Consumer segmentation & journey design Bring a McKinsey/BCG-style rigor to media and marketing strategy 3. Data, Insights & Innovation Champion data-driven decision making leveraging analytics, attribution, and consumer intelligence Integrate first-party data, martech, and AI-led insights into strategic planning Identify emerging opportunities across platforms, content ecosystems, and commerce 4. Integrated Media & Ecosystem Thinking Orchestrate full-funnel strategies across paid, owned, and earned channels Collaborate across investment, content, commerce, and tech teams to deliver holistic solutions Drive innovation in areas like retail media, connected TV, performance marketing, and digital transformation 5. Leadership & Capability Building Build and mentor a high-performing strategy team Institutionalize best practices, frameworks, and strategic tools Elevate the overall strategic product quality within the organization Play a key role in talent development and succession planning 6. Business Growth & Thought Leadership Partner with leadership on new business pitches and growth agendas Develop industry-leading POVs, whitepapers, and thought leadership Represent Spark Foundry in industry forums and client engagements Qualifications 18+ years of experience across: Media / advertising agencies Management consulting (preferred) Digital / marketing transformation roles Proven track record of leading large-scale strategic mandates and client relationships Additional information Strong business and financial acumen Deep expertise in consumer insights, brand strategy, and media ecosystems Advanced analytical and storytelling skills Ability to operate at C-suite level influence Experience in leading cross-functional, high-performing teams