VML & Ogilvy | Creative Director, Japan

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We are looking for a Creative Director to lead creative strategy and execution for key clients across Beauty, Feminine Care, and Tech. This role requires strong conceptual leadership and excellent craft standards, with the ability to drive performance in social media and content ecosystems, alongside data- and AI-enabled marketing approaches.

You will shape integrated campaigns from idea to delivery, guide multidisciplinary teams, and build trusted client relationships through clear storytelling and confident presentations in both Japanese and English. You will also bring a sharp understanding of consumer insight, particularly in categories where empathy and nuance materially improve creative relevance and effectiveness.

What You'll Do

• Lead the development and execution of creative strategies and concepts for clients across Beauty, Feminine Care, and Tech
• Take ownership of creative leadership for a major Feminine Care business, leveraging strong TVC production experience and production control capability
• Drive innovative ideation across PR, activation, digital, and commerce
• Lead creative work across social media and content production, driving strong performance and creative effectiveness
• Partner with strategy, data, media, and marketing platform teams to translate insights (including data/AI learnings) into effective creative solutions
• Lead and develop the creative team in line with WPP’s vision for diverse leadership, coaching talent and raising creative standards
• Own client presentations and workshops in Japanese and English, building strong, long-term relationships and confidence in creative leadership
• Direct high-quality visual outputs, especially in Beauty, including key visuals and product cut work, ensuring craft excellence across deliverables

What Success Looks Like

• Campaigns and content that are insight-led, culturally sharp, and commercially effective
• Strong leadership across integrated workstreams (TVC, PR, activation, digital, commerce)
• A creative team that feels energized, clear on direction, and consistently producing higher-quality work
• Client trust built through clear rationale, strong presentation, and reliable delivery

What You'll Need

• Experience in an agency or in-house creative organization at Lead / ACD / CD level
• Strong creative leadership in Beauty and/or Feminine Care categories; Tech experience is a plus
• Proven experience leading TVC production and managing production control (quality, timelines, stakeholders)
• Ideation and execution experience across PR, activation, digital, and commerce
• Deep understanding of social media and content production (not only campaign decks)
• Strong interest in leveraging data and AI-enabled marketing platforms to build better creative solutions
• Confident presentation capability in both languages
  • Business-level English (presentation capability required)
  • Native-level Japanese (presentation capability required)
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Keynote/PowerPoint
• Experience using generative AI for ideation and/or using AI agents in creative workflows is strongly preferred
• Creative background may be copy-based or art-based; what matters most is the ability to deliver the outcomes described above

Who You Are

• You turn consumer insight into creative that feels true, modern, and effective, especially in categories where nuance matters
• You embrace change and actively explore new creative approaches and technologies
• You bring strong leadership energy: you motivate teams, raise the bar, and grow people
• You collaborate smoothly across diverse teams and stakeholders in a global environment
• You balance logical thinking with strong creative ideation: clear rationale and strong ideas

About Us

VML & Ogilvy Japan GK was established in April 2019 as a partnership between Geometry Global and The Ogilvy Group to enhance our offering to brands in Japan in support of their business ambitions and marketing objectives. We believe in the power of creativity to drive meaningful change that delivers positive business outcomes. Now more than ever the ability for an agency to flex and adapt to clients changing needs is vital in the application of communications, brand experience, commerce and technology. Our blend of global and local expertise and marketing capability is designed to meet the challenges of today while setting our clients up for success from tomorrow and beyond. VML & Ogilvy Japan GK is a WPP company (NASDAQ: WWPGY)

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We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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