EVP, Head of Commerce & Retail Media

dentsu•New York, NY

6d•$206,000 - $316,250•Hybrid

About The Position

The purpose of this role is to take ownership of the Performance disciplines in the market and to coordinate the team to best meet and exceed the clients’ objectives and our business goals. Job Description: We are seeking a visionary executive leader to oversee our growing Commerce & Retail practice in the US. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of a best-in-class media organization. The EVP, Head of Commerce & Retail Media will be responsible for defining and delivering dentsu Media’s holistic Commerce & Retail Media strategy, as well as achieving excellence in all media planning, buying, and investment operations – both current and future. Retail media has rapidly become one of the most powerful forces reshaping the marketing landscape, sitting at the intersection of commerce, media, data, and performance. As brands increasingly demand measurable outcomes and closer proximity to the point of purchase, Commerce & Retail Media has evolved from a niche capability into a core growth engine for modern marketing organizations. This senior leadership position will oversee and accelerate our Commerce & Retail Media Activation practice – guiding strategy, advancing craft, and unlocking new opportunities across the rapidly expanding retail ecosystem. As the EVP, Head of Commerce & Retail Media, you will lead an established, scaled team while shaping the next chapter of its evolution. The ideal candidate will bring a bold vision for how commerce media should operate in a connected media environment – integrating retail platforms, shopper data, creative innovation, and cross-channel activation into a cohesive performance engine for clients. As the executive responsible for this capability, you will partner closely with client leaders, platform partners, and cross-channel activation teams to deliver measurable growth while positioning each of dentsu’s media agencies (Carat, dentsu X, and iProspect) as leaders in the future of commerce-driven media. This position will report to the US Chief Activation Officer.

Requirements

12+ years’ experience in digital marketing
7+ years’ experience leading teams
5+ years’ experience in professional services
Proven track record of converting retail media into business results
Demonstrable knowledge of the US retail environment, including the AdTech required to execute retail media advertising
Demonstrated success in building and managing complex business processes across multiple internal teams in a high-growth environment

Responsibilities

VISION & STRATEGY Actively participate in the development and communication of dentsu Media’s forward-looking vision for Commerce and Retail Media. In alignment with the agency’s overall goals & business objectives, help define and deliver the holistic commerce & retail media strategy, inclusive of onsite and offsite media, buy-side & sell-side offerings, and beyond. Identify emerging trends, technologies, and opportunities in commerce & retail media to stay ahead of the curve and shape agency priorities, perspectives, and solutions. Champion innovation efforts spanning all aspects of the practice, from ideation through execution, bringing first-to-market solutions, tools, and processes to remain at the forefront of the retail industry.
CAPABILITY & TEAM LEADERSHIP Serve as the Commerce & Retail Media capability leader for dentsu Media’s US agency brands (Carat, dentsu X, iProspect), managing a large, distributed team of strategic leaders and practitioners within the network, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that encourages continuous learning and improvement. Oversee the implementation and execution of best-in-class commerce and retail media planning and buying, with an emphasis on operational excellence and customer-centricity. Run a profitable and operationally-sound business that is well-positioned for growth into the future. Support business development efforts and play a key role in new & organic growth; maintain executive level visibility into growth pipeline.
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION & INTEGRATION Navigate a highly matrixed organization with several ‘hands” touching Commerce and Retail across the network. Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and cross-functional capability leaders to identify partnership, integration, and upselling/cross-selling opportunities. Collaborate with creative, analytics, and product teams to unlock and facilitate holistic commerce & retail solutions that address market & client needs.
MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS Working closely with dentsu’s Marketplaces & Partnerships team, cultivate and grow strategic partnerships with media vendors and technology partners to advance dentsu’s vision and create value for our organization and clients. Advise and participate in Joint Business Plan (JBP) negotiations with relevant media partners and RMNs (Retail Media Networks). Drives partner innovation roadmap, identifying and designing headline-worthy product innovations, first-to-markets and strategic bets that propel dentsu (and agencies) in the market.
CLIENT STEWARDSHIP Act as the executive escalation point for key client accounts, guiding resolution of high-stakes issues and ensuring the agency consistently delivers best-in-class Retail Media outcomes. Represent the agency’s Commerce & Retail Media capability in senior client conversations, reinforcing trust, credibility, and differentiated value at the highest levels. Conduct regular client reviews and meetings to assess client satisfaction and address any concerns or issues. Champion a culture of client excellence by empowering agency-focused Commerce Media leaders with clear strategic direction, governance frameworks, and access to market-leading commerce expertise.