Executive Technical Director

At AKQA (part of WPP), we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products, and services. We design connected experiences that transform brands and businesses through the integration of creativity, technology, and data. We are seeking an Executive Technical Director to lead and shape technology-driven transformation for our clients. This role combines deep technical expertise with strategic thinking, client leadership, and a strong point of view on how AI is redefining customer experience, commerce, and business operations. The Executive Technical Director operates as a senior partner to both clients and internal leadership, helping define how AI and modern technology reshape customer experience, commerce, and business operations. They translate business ambition into technology strategy, identify and originate new opportunities, and drive the creation of innovative, AI-enabled products and experiences. This role is critical in scaling AKQA’s impact by extending CTO-level thinking across key clients and engagements in the region. ROLE REQUIREMENTS Technical Leadership • Define and drive end-to-end technical strategy and architecture across complex ecosystems Lead design of scalable, secure, cloud-native systems • Champion MACH architectures • Establish engineering standards and best practices Oversee architecture, integrations, and data flows • Drive modern development practices (CI/CD, DevOps, etc.) • Partner with Data teams on data architecture, personalisation strategies, and real-time decisioning systems Client & Strategic Leadership • Act as a senior technology partner to clients, leading strategic conversations at C-level across AI, platforms, and digital transformation • Translate business ambition and customer experience goals into clear, actionable technology strategies and roadmaps • Shape and originate new opportunities, from early-stage thinking through to solution definition and proposal • Lead technical discovery, solution design, and estimation for new business and pitches • Drive the conversion of innovation initiatives (POCs, pilots) into scaled programmes and long-term partnerships Navigate complex enterprise environments, influencing stakeholders across business, technology, and experience functions • Proactively identify whitespace opportunities and define new AI-led use cases, propositions, and engagement models for clients AI, Innovation & Product Thinking • Define how AI transforms client business models, customer experience, and operational efficiency • Identify and shape AI-driven opportunities, products, and services that create tangible business value • Apply generative AI, LLMs, and agent-based systems to real-world use cases across commerce, marketing, and service • Contribute to the development of AI-led propositions, accelerators, and repeatable offerings • Lead the integration of AI into end-to-end solutions, from use case definition to architecture and deployment • Ensure responsible AI implementation, including governance, scalability, and compliance Customer Experience & Business Understanding • Strong understanding of customer journeys, digital ecosystems, and experience design principles • Ability to connect technology decisions to customer experience quality, brand impact, and business outcomes • Experience working within large, complex organisations, understanding governance, stakeholders, and decision-making dynamics • Ability to bridge strategy, design, data, and technology into cohesive solutions Delivery & Team • Oversee delivery across multiple programmes, ensuring technical quality, performance, and scalability • Lead and mentor senior engineers and technical leaders, building high-performing, distributed teams