Senior Media Activation Manager, Display & Programmatic

About WPP Media WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.  WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working. For more information, visit wppmedia.com . Role Summary and Impact As a Senior Media Activation Manager, Display & Programmatic within the APAC programmatic team, you will lead the strategic planning, execution, and ongoing optimization of display and programmatic media campaigns across key APAC markets for Google. In this leadership position, you will oversee end-to-end display operations, guide direct reports, and act as a senior point of contact for client stakeholders and internal cross-functional leads. Campaign objectives are primarily focused on Direct Response (usage, acquisition, ROAS) across open exchange and direct publisher deals. You will ensure flawless campaign execution, drive operational standardisation, and spearhead innovative Display & Programmatic strategies across demand-side platforms (DSPs) and self-service ad platforms. Role responsibilities include: • Directly leads display strategy and media activation across assigned high-priority APAC markets and regional client accounts. • Line manages and mentors activation executives and managers, overseeing workload allocation, quality assurance, and professional development. • Allocates ~60% of time to senior portfolio management and strategy, and ~40% to team development, process innovation, and cross-functional workstreams. • Owns the end-to-end delivery of comprehensive display media plans, strategic wrap-ups, and milestone deliverables aligned with client communications strategy and business goals. • Enforces strict compliance with platform best practices (DSP/AdPlatform setup, naming conventions, campaign structures, frequency management, and pre-bid parameters). • Oversees team pacing and delivery routines, ensuring 100% data integrity, on-time client reporting, and active management of campaign KPIs. • Ensures campaigns consistently hit target benchmarks by end-of-quarter (KPI targets, 65%+ Viewability, 98%+ Pacing), proactively resolving potential bottlenecks or pacing issues. • Drives sophisticated performance optimization strategies across programmatic platforms, evaluating raw data to extract actionable insights and incremental growth opportunities. • Leads continuous evaluation and evolution of display buying best practices in response to cookieless changes, privacy regulations, and shifting ad-tech dynamics. • Serves as subject matter expert on display channels, inventory tactics, contextual solutions, audience data integration, and supply path optimization (SPO). • Collaborates seamlessly with adjacent disciplines, including Data Strategy, Analytics, AdOps, Strategy, and Experience teams to deliver holistic media solutions. • Maintains a deep understanding of the global programmatic ad-tech ecosystem (publishers, SSPs, DSPs, measurement vendors, clean rooms). • Oversees complex project management across multiple concurrent product launches, ensuring high quality standardisation and timely escalation management. • Proactively communicates key business highlights, strategic successes, and escalation paths to line management and senior client leads. Background Experience • 5–7 years of hands-on work experience in programmatic and display media activation within an agency, trading desk, or ad-tech environment. • Proven track record of managing direct reports, developing talent, and leading media activation teams. • Advanced expertise in planning, launching, and optimizing campaigns via enterprise DSPs (e.g., DV360, Amazon DSP) and self-service ad platforms (Google Ads). • Extensive experience managing multi-market campaigns delivering against both Brand awareness and Direct Response performance KPIs. • Deep understanding of programmatic buying models (Open Exchange, PMP, Programmatic Guaranteed) across desktop, mobile, and connected devices. • High attention to detail, exceptional organizational capabilities, and a structured approach to quantitative testing and multivariate optimizations. • Excellent relationship management and communication skills, with proven ability to present complex ad-tech concepts to senior client stakeholders. • Strong analytical capabilities with high proficiency in analyzing complex data sets, identifying insights, and framing strategic solutions. • Advanced proficiency in Google Sheets / Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, data modeling, automated reporting frameworks). • Active involvement in the programmatic and mar-tech industry with an up-to-date knowledge of privacy updates, signal loss solutions, and broader advertising trends. Desirable • Deep hands-on experience across the full Google stack (DV360, Google Ads, CM360, GA4). • Experience with Dynamic Creative Optimization (DCO) setups and feed-based creative integration via Creative Management Platforms (CMPs). • Direct experience partnering with data science and analytics teams on advanced measurement frameworks (brand lift, conversion lift, incrementality, panel testing, regression analysis). • Google Analytics certification. • Prior experience overseeing regional display activations across diverse APAC countries and local language markets. • Experience working with offshore teams • Experience deploying AI-powered productivity and automated solutions Life at WPP Media & Benefits Our passion for shaping the next era of media is powered by our commitment to   Be Extraordinary, investi…