The Vice President, Client & Business Development will lead growth strategy, sales execution, and client success for the company’s Brand business. This executive role is responsible for expanding relationships with CPG brand partners, developing new business opportunities, and leading high-performing teams that deliver integrated shopper, experiential, digital, and in-store solutions. The ideal candidate brings strong commercial leadership, senior-level client relationship skills, and the ability to turn strategy into measurable revenue growth and exceptional client outcomes.
Responsibilities- Lead sales and client services strategy for the Brand business, with accountability for revenue growth, margin performance, client retention, and new business development.
- Build and convert a strong pipeline of brand-direct opportunities by developing senior-level relationships with current and prospective CPG clients.
- Lead, coach, and develop sales, business development, account management, client services, and project management team members.
- Partner across Retail, Operations, Field, Integrated Marketing, Finance, and Shared Services to deliver scalable client solutions from sale through execution.
- Translate client goals into clear program strategies, timelines, budgets, success measures, and execution requirements.
- Advance integrated brand solutions across experiential marketing, demos, shopper marketing, digital media, creative, production, roadshows, and related services.
- Monitor pipeline health, financial performance, client satisfaction, and execution quality; use insights to identify growth opportunities and resolve risks.
- Serve as a senior client and internal escalation leader for complex business, contract, billing, execution, or cross-functional issues.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, Management, or a related field required; equivalent experience may be considered.
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in sales, client services, account leadership, shopper marketing, experiential marketing, retail services, CPG, or a related commercial environment.
- Proven success growing revenue, developing new business, retaining strategic clients, and leading cross-functional teams.
- Experience with CPG brands, retail partners, shopper marketing, experiential programs, or in-store execution preferred.
- Strong interpersonal and highly developed writing skills; acute attention to detail.
- Travel as needed.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Executive presence with strong leadership, negotiation, consultative selling, and strategic account management skills.
- Ability to set commercial strategy, build pipeline, close opportunities, and manage revenue and margin performance.
- Knowledge of brand marketing, shopper engagement, retail execution, experiential programming, demos, digital, creative, production, and integrated client solutions.
- Ability to lead through influence across sales, client services, operations, finance, field execution, integrated marketing, and project management teams.
- Excellent communication, presentation, financial acumen, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong organizational judgment with the ability to prioritize, make decisions, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
Physical Requirements
- Sit for extended periods (typically 6+ hours per day)
- Use a computer, including keyboard and mouse, for prolonged periods
- Lift and carry light items (e.g., files, office supplies, laptops, typically 20+ pounds)
- Reach, bend, or stoop occasionally to access files or office materials
- Maintain focus and attention for long periods of desk-based work
- Follow clear directions
- Perform repetitive motions (e.g., typing, clicking) consistently throughout the day
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in sales, client services, account leadership, shopper marketing, experiential marketing, retail services, CPG, or a related commercial environment
- Proven success growing revenue, developing new business, retaining strategic clients, and leading cross-functional teams
- Experience with CPG brands, retail partners, shopper marketing, experiential programs, or in-store execution
- Strong interpersonal and highly developed writing skills
- Acute attention to detail
- Executive presence, leadership, negotiation, consultative selling, and strategic account management skills
- Ability to set commercial strategy, build pipeline, close opportunities, and manage revenue and margin performance
- Knowledge of brand marketing, shopper engagement, retail execution, experiential programming, demos, digital, creative, production, and integrated client solutions
- Excellent communication, presentation, financial acumen, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills
- Strong organizational judgment and ability to prioritize, make decisions, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment
What We Do
Acosta Group fuses storied expertise, unmatched connectivity and advanced insight to accelerate brand growth – everywhere you sell. Our collective of the most trusted retail, marketing and foodservice agencies is reimagining how people connect with brands at every point in the consumer journey. Comprised of Acosta, ActionLink, CORE Foodservice, CROSSMARK, Mosaic, Premium Retail Services and Product Connections, Acosta Group understands and anticipates evolving consumer needs, fueling accelerated performance to connect tomorrow's commerce today. The collective delivers end-to-end solutions, including headquarter sales services, omnichannel retail solutions, assisted sales and training, integrated marketing, foodservice sales enablement and culinary solutions, and the most advanced data and insights.
