Senior Ad Sales Manager

About the Role & Team

This role sits within the London-based Disney Advertising Sales team and reports directly to the UK Sales Director, with responsibility for leading a sales pod and driving significant revenue growth across Disney+, ESPN and the wider Disney Media portfolio. 

The Senior Ad Sales Manager will own senior relationships across major UK agencies and advertisers, combining deep knowledge of TV, digital and CTV with Disney's content, audience, data and partnership capabilities to deliver sustainable commercial growth. 

This is a people-leadership role with direct accountability for the performance, development and engagement of a team comprising Sales Managers and a Senior Sales Executive. The Senior Sales Manager will set clear expectations, create individual development plans, coach performance and build a high-performing, inclusive and accountable team culture. 

The role carries end-to-end accountability for the pod's revenue target, pipeline health, forecasting accuracy and strategic account plans.  

As a member of the UK Sales leadership group, the role will partner directly with the UK Sales Director on FY27 strategy, trading priorities, organisational development and the evolution of Disney Advertising's proposition and ways of working. 

This position has accountability for people leadership, team targets, senior commercial decision-making, strategic agency leadership and developing the capability and succession pipeline of the wider sales team. 

Preferably, strong senior agency relationships with Omnicom Media and other independent agencies.

This role will be based in our London Hammersmith office, 4 days a week, with either a Monday or Friday working from home. 

You'll join a team grounded in our Disney values: acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration, and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day. 

What You Will Do

• Lead delivery of ambitious revenue targets across Disney+, ESPN and Disney Media through premium video, digital/CTV, programmatic, sponsorships and custom content partnerships. 

• Own the pod's annual and quarterly revenue target, translating the UK commercial strategy into clear team priorities, account plans, individual objectives and measurable actions. 

• Lead weekly and monthly performance management across the pod: review pipeline, forecast, pacing and risks; challenge assumptions; remove blockers; and intervene early where performance is behind plan. 

• Directly manage, coach and develop Sales Managers and Senior Sales Executives  

• Build team capability and succession by identifying strengths and development needs, creating stretch opportunities and sharing best practice,  

• Lead the most senior and strategically important agency and advertiser relationships within the pod, including senior investment, trading, planning, programmatic, partnerships and client stakeholders

• Manage key trading-partner relationships and ensure delivery against commercial agreements, balancing revenue, margin, client value and long-term partnership objectives. 

• Lead complex commercial negotiations and major pitches, providing judgement on pricing, value, trading commitments, programmatic routes, sponsorships and bespoke partnership solutions. 

• Grow programmatic and addressable revenue by ensuring the team can confidently sell evolving buying routes including PMP/PG, audience/data capabilities and relevant DSP integrations. 

• Work closely with Client Services, Insights, Brand Partnerships, B2B Marketing and wider Disney businesses to deliver excellent campaigns, identify new opportunities and drive repeatable business. 

• Represent the UK Sales team with senior internal stakeholders and EMEA colleagues, bringing market feedback into the business and helping shape product, measurement, partnership priorities 

• Support the UK Sales Director on leadership priorities including FY27 planning, talent development, recruitment, team structure, trading strategy, agency workshops and major industry initiatives.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Extensive experience in media sales, partnerships or a closely related commercial role, including successful experience operating at Sales Manager level or equivalent. 

• A strong track record of delivering significant revenue growth across TV, premium video, digital/CTV, programmatic and/or commercial partnerships. 

• Proven people-management experience, including setting objectives, coaching performance, giving constructive feedback, developing talent and managing both high performance and underperformance. 

• Demonstrable accountability for a team or business-unit revenue target, with experience managing pipeline, forecasting, pacing, risk and recovery plans across multiple accounts and team members. 

• Experience leading senior relationships with major agencies and advertisers and influencing executive-level stakeholders internally and externally. 

• Excellent knowledge of the UK media marketplace and how agencies and advertisers plan, buy and measure premium video across linear TV, BVOD, CTV and digital platforms. 

• Strong understanding of programmatic advertising, DSPs, PMPs/PGs, audience targeting, identity/data and the changing role of automation in premium video buying.

• Strong understanding of modern effectiveness and measurement approaches including attention, attribution, incremental reach and outcomes 

• Excellent presentation, communication and analytical skills, with confidence presenting to both small groups and senior audiences. 

• Extensive experience in relevant media sales/partnership roles, or equivalent depth of experience, including meaningful people-management and senior commercial leadership responsibility.

The Perks 

• 25 days annual leave

• Private medical insurance & dental care

• Complimentary admission to eligible Disney Theme Parks, giving you the opportunity to experience the magic we create and make memories of your own. Admission is subject to availability, capacity restrictions, applicable rules, block-out dates, and eligibility requirements.

• Access to a wide range of Disney discounts on Disney merchandise, Disney Food & Beverage, Disney Resort Hotels, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, and more. Offerings are subject to availability and may be seasonal, and subject to applicable rules, restrictions, and eligibility requirements.

• Excellent parental and guardian leave

• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney Mosaic, Disney PRIDE, our disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. 

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.