UK Chief Transformation Officer

Who we are: Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation. WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram . JOIN THE TEAM DRIVEN TO CREATE VALUE THROUGH REPUTATION In today’s complex, rapidly changing environment, reputation has never mattered more for brands, businesses and groundbreaking leaders. Burson is the global communications leader purpose built to create value through reputation and pioneer communications in the intelligence era. Burson brings unrivalled expertise, AI first technologies and cut through creativity to solve our clients’ ever shifting challenges. We are creating a modern communications powerhouse with the global reach and local relevance to build and protect reputation for every client we serve, anywhere in the world. We are relentless innovators and lifelong learners, helping brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. More About the Role The UK Chief Transformation Officer will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the CEO’s transformation priorities, modernising how Burson UK operates and how we deliver exceptional work and value for our clients. Reporting directly to the UK CEO and working closely with the UK Senior Leadership Group, you will bring clarity, pace and discipline to an ambitious transformation agenda. You will translate strategic ambition into a focused programme of change, establishing the governance, priorities and accountability required to ensure transformation initiatives deliver sustainable commercial, operational and client impact. This is a highly visible leadership role combining strategic foresight with hands on execution. You will challenge long established ways of working, identify opportunities to redesign processes and operating models, and accelerate the adoption of technology, AI and new approaches that enable our teams to deliver better results, faster and more effectively. You will also be an influential advisor and connector across UK, EMEA, Global and WPP leadership. You will build alignment around the transformation agenda and ensure that Burson UK both benefits from and contributes to the organisation’s wider transformation strategy. Success will require someone who can simplify complexity, create momentum and inspire action. You will be equally comfortable shaping strategy with senior leaders, working directly with client teams, and rolling up your sleeves to turn ideas into measurable change. What You’ll Do Shape and lead the UK transformation agenda. Work with the CEO and Senior Leadership Group to translate business strategy into clear transformation priorities, outcomes, investment choices and a focused roadmap aligned with EMEA and Global priorities. Drive transformation from strategy through to execution. Lead a portfolio of cross functional programmes, manage interdependencies and establish clear governance, ownership, decision making and benefits tracking across the business. Reimagine how we deliver exceptional client work. Partner with the Chief Client Officer, senior client leaders and major accounts to identify opportunities to integrate talent, processes, AI and technology in ways that improve quality, speed, effectiveness and value for clients. Accelerate innovation and new ways of working. Champion the adoption of WPP Open, Burson’s suite of tools and emerging technologies. Create an environment in which experimentation, learning and continuous improvement become embedded in how the agency operates. Lead organisational change and build capability. Partner with People, Finance, Internal Communications and business leaders to embed new behaviours, operating practices and capabilities. Coach leaders and teams to navigate ambiguity and deliver change effectively. Deliver measurable business impact. Establish clear transformation KPIs and hold the organisation accountable for outcomes including increased revenue per head, incremental revenue and net sales, improved client experience and Vantage scores, strengthened AI capability, and disciplined delivery against the agreed UK Transformation Plan. You will also represent Burson UK on agreed regional, global and WPP transformation initiatives and help position the UK business externally as a leader in AI and the future of communications. Experience That Brings Success Significant senior leadership experience in transformation, change or business modernisation. You will bring a strong track record of turning ambitious strategy into tangible and sustainable organisational and commercial outcomes. Deep understanding of how exceptional client work is created and delivered. Ideally, this will have been gained within communications, marketing, professional services or another fast moving, client led environment. You will combine this experience with the curiosity and confidence to challenge and redesign established ways of working. Strong expertise in transformation strategy, operating model design and organisational change. You will be able to identify the structural, cultural, technological and operational shifts required to improve performance and long term competitiveness. A genuine passion for innovation, AI and technology. You will stay ahead of emerging tools and industry developments and, critically, translate them into practical applications that improve how teams work and the outcomes we deliver for clients. Exceptional senior stakeholder influence and leadership presence. You will have the credibility to act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leaders, challenge assumptions constructively, create alignment across diverse stakeholders and achieve results through influence rather than direct authority. A highly commercial and action oriented mindset. You will combine strategic thinking with a willingness to get close to the work. You will be comfortable using data and insight to measure impact, making decisions at pace, learning through experimentation and personally stepping in when needed to move critical priorities forward. #LI-NE1 You belong at Burson: Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success. At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together. 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. When you click the "Submit Application" button below, this will send any information you add below to Burson. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.