Role Overview

We are seeking a dynamic, strategic, and business-oriented Account Director – PR & Business Head to lead client relationships, drive business growth, oversee public relations mandates, and manage the overall performance of the PR business vertical.

The role combines senior-level client servicing, strategic communications, team leadership, new business development, revenue generation, and operational management. The ideal candidate will have a robust understanding of the media landscape, excellent client leadership capabilities, and a proven track record of building brands, growing accounts, and delivering measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business Leadership & Growth

- Lead the PR business vertical, defining growth priorities, business strategy, and revenue targets.
- Develop and execute business development plans to acquire new clients and expand existing accounts.
- Identify new business opportunities across corporate communications, consumer PR, lifestyle, technology, BFSI, healthcare, and other relevant sectors.
- Lead pitches, proposals, credentials presentations, RFP responses, and commercial negotiations.
- Build strong relationships with CXOs, marketing heads, corporate communications leaders, and key decision-makers.
- Drive revenue growth, profitability, account retention, and sustainable business expansion.
- Monitor business performance, revenue pipelines, budgets, and profitability against agreed targets.

1. Strategic PR & Communications

- Develop and oversee integrated PR strategies aligned with clients’ business and communication objectives.
- Provide strategic counsel on brand positioning, corporate reputation, thought leadership, media relations, and stakeholder engagement.
- Lead the development of communication plans, messaging frameworks, media strategies, and annual PR roadmaps.
- Oversee high-impact campaigns, media launches, leadership profiling, product announcements, and brand-building initiatives.
- Guide clients through sensitive communications, reputational challenges, and crisis management situations.
- Ensure campaigns deliver measurable outcomes through relevant KPIs, media quality, share of voice, sentiment, and business impact.

1.



Client & Account Management

- Serve as the senior strategic partner and escalation point for key clients.
- Build and maintain long-term relationships with clients through proactive counsel, strong delivery, and consistent performance.
- Lead account planning, quarterly business reviews, annual strategy presentations, and performance evaluations.
- Identify opportunities for organic growth, cross-selling, and upselling additional communication services.
- Ensure high standards of client servicing, responsiveness, strategic thinking, and campaign execution.
- Manage client expectations, resolve escalations, and protect account retention and profitability.

1. Team Leadership & Development

- Lead, mentor, and develop account managers, senior account managers, account directors, and PR teams.
- Establish clear goals, performance expectations, accountability, and quality standards.
- Build a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on strategic thinking, creativity, ownership, and client satisfaction.
- Oversee resource allocation, team structures, workloads, and talent development.
- Identify training needs and develop future leaders within the PR business.
- Encourage innovation, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of new communication tools and measurement practices.

1. Operational & Financial Management

- Own account budgets, revenue forecasts, resource planning, and profitability.
- Monitor billing, collections, outstanding payments, and commercial compliance in coordination with finance.
- Ensure projects and retainers are delivered within agreed timelines, budgets, and scopes.
- Establish operational processes, reporting structures, and quality-control mechanisms.
- Track account-level and business-level performance against agreed financial and operational KPIs.




- Ensure compliance with company policies, contractual commitments, and ethical PR practices.

1. Industry Leadership & Stakeholder Management

- Build strong relationships with journalists, editors, media houses, influencers, industry associations, and strategic partners.
- Represent the agency at industry forums, networking events, conferences, and client meetings.
- Track industry trends, competitor activity, emerging platforms, and changes in the media ecosystem.
- Strengthen the agency’s market positioning through thought leadership, networking, and visibility.
- Collaborate with leadership and other business verticals to develop integrated communication offerings.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Performance will be evaluated against mutually agreed targets, including:
- New business revenue and achievement of sales targets.
- Growth and profitability of the PR business vertical.
- Client retention, satisfaction, and organic account growth.
- Quality and conversion rate of new business pitches.
- Delivery of strategic campaigns and achievement of communication KPIs.
- Team productivity, employee development, and retention.
- Timely billing, collections, forecasting, and budget management.
- Contribution to agency positioning, reputation, and overall business growth.

Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Public Relations, Mass Communication, Journalism, Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 10–15+ years of relevant experience in PR, corporate communications, reputation management, or an integrated communications agency.
- Demonstrated experience in managing large client portfolios and leading senior account teams.
- Proven track record in business development, client acquisition, pitching, and revenue growth.
- Strong understanding of the media ecosystem, PR strategy, crisis communications, and corporate reputation.
- Experience in budgeting, forecasting, commercial negotiations, and account profitability.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.

Interested candidates can write to us at [email protected]

Warm Regards

Whizz HR

📌 Director of Public Relations (Mumbai)
🏢 Whizz HR
📍 Mumbai