Title: Alliance Sales & Consulting Lead, Kyndryl & Gradial

Location: US - (Remote/Hybrid)

Division: WPP Enterprise Solutions

Alliance Focus: Kyndryl, Gradial

Vertical Focus: General Enterprise (Priority targets in Retail & FSI, with additional focus on CPG/Retail for content operations)

Region/Scope: North America 

The Opportunity

WPP Enterprise Solutions is significantly expanding our strategic global partnerships with both Kyndryl and Gradial. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Sales & Consulting Lead to drive our joint go-to-market efforts across these two distinct partner ecosystems. This role is pivotal in identifying, developing, and closing WPP billable opportunities within both Kyndryl's and Gradial's client bases, existing WPP accounts, as well as through new joint pursuits.

This is a quota-carrying sales role with a strong consulting component, responsible for translating complex client needs into integrated WPP-Kyndryl and WPP-Gradial solutions. You will work closely with WPP's client account leadership and the respective partner teams to forge new paths for comprehensive experience and content transformation. Your success will be measured by driving significant WPP through these strategic partnerships, creating compelling client success stories, and expanding our joint footprint across North America.

 

Role Summary

Core Identity: Own WPP revenue generation influenced by and delivered in partnership with Kyndryl and Gradial across enterprise accounts in your assigned region. Responsible for identifying, nurturing, and closing WPP Enterprise Solutions services opportunities, leveraging each partner's unique platforms and expertise to drive comprehensive transformation for clients.

Role Framework: This role operates across three primary motions, with clear distinctions for each alliance:

• Client Engagement & Solution Development (40%): Lead experience, technology, and content transformation pursuits from qualification through close, bringing a consultative approach to define integrated WPP-Kyndryl and WPP-Gradial solutions.
• Partner Coordination (35%): Build deep relationships with Kyndryl and Gradial regional leadership, consult and sales teams, and account leadership, aligning on joint client strategies and pipeline development for each respective partnership.
• Internal Orchestration & GTM (25%): Coordinate WPP resources (solution design & architectures, capability subject matter experts, delivery, executive sponsorship) and contribute to the evolution of the joint alliance strategies and go-to-market plans for both Kyndryl and Gradial.
  
  

Accountability: You carry an individual quota and are accountable for WPP Enterprise Solutions billable revenue specifically influenced by and delivered through the Kyndryl and Gradial partnerships. Success is measured by closed deals, pipeline health, and the depth of collaboration and joint success with each partner's regional and vertical teams.

Core Responsibilities

1. Client Engagement & Solution Development (40%)

• Lead complex, consultative sales pursuits for WPP's CX, AI, data, technology, and content transformation services, from initial qualification through contract close.
• Facilitate executive briefings and collaborative workshops with existing and new clients, and partner leadership to co-create solutions and build alignment.
• Navigate complex procurement processes within large enterprise organizations, positioning value for both marketing and IT stakeholders.
• Guide clients through discovery, problem definition, and solution design, leveraging a blend of sales and consulting expertise.
• For Kyndryl Solutions:
• Articulate the unique value proposition of WPP's front-end creativity and experience design seamlessly integrated with Kyndryl's back-end mission-critical infrastructure, managed services, and AI transformation capabilities ("chip-to-experience" transformation).
• Develop and present WPP-Kyndryl joint solutions showcasing how enhanced customer experiences are powered by robust and secure IT foundations.
• For Gradial Solutions:
• Articulate the value of WPP's content strategy, design, and implementation capabilities, integrated with Gradial’s AI-driven content operations platform, to establish agentic-first content supply chains.
• Position WPP's broader technology implementation expertise for major content platforms (e.g., AEM, Sitecore, Contentful) alongside Gradial's platform, enabling adaptive, intelligent, and scalable content systems for clients.
• Develop and present WPP-Gradial joint solutions that accelerate time-to-market with speed, efficiency, and quality in content creation, delivery, and optimization.

1. Partner Coordination (35%)

• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with regional partner leadership, sales and consult teams, platform & vertical leads, and account owners.
• Identify, develop, and qualify WPP billable opportunities within each partner's existing and prospective client base.
• Participate in joint account planning sessions with partner teams to proactively identify transformation needs and position integrated solutions.
• Coordinate with partners on opportunity registration, certification tracking, deal support, and joint value articulation for integrated offerings.
• Represent WPP at partner events, industry forums, and joint customer engagements, actively promoting each partnership's distinct value.
• For Kyndryl:
• Focus on where WPP's experience transformation services complement Kyndryl's infrastructure management, AI, and data offerings.
• Leverage Kyndryl's platforms and frameworks (e.g., Kyndryl Bridge, Kyndryl Agentic AI Framework) to enhance WPPs solution delivery and GTM efforts for "chip-to-experience" transformations.
• For Gradial:
• Focus on where WPP's content strategy, operations, automation, and technology implementation services complement Gradial’s AI-driven content operations platform.
• Support WPP's development of IP and a center of excellence around Gradial platform solutions to enhance and differentiate WPP's offerings for agentic content supply chains.
  
  

1. Internal Orchestration & GTM (25%)

• Collaborate with WPP account teams and capability leads to identify and qualify Kyndryl-relevant and Gradial-relevant opportunities within existing client relationships and new logos.
• Orchestrate WPP solution design and architects, strategists, and pre-sales resources to develop compelling joint proposals and SOWs.
• Partner with WPP delivery leadership to ensure a seamless transition from sold work to successful project execution.
• Actively contribute to the WPP-Kyndryl and WPP-Gradial global alliance strategies, GTM planning, and enablement efforts for WPP teams, ensuring a deep understanding of each partner's unique value proposition.
• Maintain accurate pipeline and forecast in WPP systems, tracking Kyndryl-influenced and Gradial-influenced revenue and partnership KPIs separately.

Success Metrics

• WPP Billable Revenue closed against annual quota target (delineated for Kyndryl and Gradial-influenced/delivered revenue).
• Pipeline coverage for Kyndryl-influenced and Gradial-influenced opportunities.
• Win rate on qualified Kyndryl and Gradial opportunities.
• Kyndryl relationship engagement (joint calls, account plans, QBRs, solution development).
• Gradial relationship engagement (joint calls, solution development, client success stories).
• Number of new VML-Kyndryl and VML-Gradial joint accounts initiated or expanded.

Qualifications

Required

• 8-12+ years of enterprise sales and/or consulting experience, with significant experience selling complex technology services or solutions.
• Proven track record of achieving quota in complex, consultative sales environments ($3M+ annually).
• Experience selling across various verticals including retail, financial services, automotive, utilities, and hospitality.
• Experience navigating and connecting both IT and business stakeholder priorities (CMOs, CIOs, CEOs).
• Strong executive presence, presentation skills, and the ability to engage C-suite stakeholders effectively.
• Background in professional services, consulting, or systems integration, with a strong emphasis on solution selling.
• Demonstrated understanding of enterprise IT infrastructure, managed services, AI delivery, and how these underpin digital and customer experience transformations (relevant for Kyndryl focus).
• Demonstrated understanding of content supply chain, AI in marketing/content operations, CMS/DAM platforms, and content strategy/delivery transformation (relevant for Gradial focus).

Preferred

• Prior experience in the Kyndryl ecosystem or with other major IT infrastructure and managed services providers.
• Prior experience with Gradial or similar AI-driven content operations platforms.
• Existing relationships with Kyndryl regional leadership, consult, or vertical teams.
• Existing relationships within the Gradial partner network or relevant marketing operations technology providers.
• Demonstrable understanding of AI, data platforms, and customer experience transformation solutions and methodologies.
• Experience positioning end-to-end transformation solutions that bridge front-end experiences with back-end systems.
• Experience with WPP or holding company environments.
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or technical master's degree a plus.

Role Positioning

This role is a unique blend of a quota-carrying sales leader and a consultative expert, focused on two distinct strategic alliances. It is not solely a back-office alliance manager, pure marketing function, or purely technical pre-sales role. You will be actively engaged with clients and both Kyndryl and Gradial partners, defining the future of digital transformation and agentic content supply chains. You will own your numbers and be accountable for WPP's revenue outcomes driven by these partnerships. Success requires exceptional sales execution, deep relationship-building with both Kyndryl and Gradial, and the ability to consultatively orchestrate WPP's diverse expertise to win complex, integrated deals across their respective domains.