Interim Head of Growth / Managing Director (Maternity Cover)

About Us:

ASK US FOR IDEAS (AUFI) exists to connect brands with the top 1% of the industry's creative agencies. Over the last decade, we’ve built a powerful network of the most imaginative, innovative, exceptional creative agencies in the world.

We work with brands of all scales – from household names to disruptive start-ups and high-growth scale-ups – helping them find their perfect agency partners across BRANDING, DIGITAL, and MARKETING. Our mission is to create long-term, meaningful connections that drive business success.

Set up by two lifelong friends, now a team of 12, we pride ourselves on making a real and meaningful difference to the brands and agencies we work with.

Learn more about AUFI, what we do and why we do it in this article originally published in IDEA Magazine.

The Role:

Interim Head of Growth / Managing Director (Maternity Cover)

We are looking for a strategic and dynamic leader to step into an interim Head of Growth / Managing Director role during a key maternity cover period. This role will focus on driving business growth, team leadership, and strategy execution, ensuring AUFI continues to expand its client network and deliver exceptional brand-agency partnerships.

You will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and be responsible for leading the team, driving key initiatives, and ensuring seamless business operations while maintaining our high standards of service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Business strategy & leadership: Work with the SLT to refine and implement AUFI’s growth strategy, ensuring we continue to grow and strengthen our market position.
• Client network expansion: Lead efforts to grow AUFI’s client base, with a focus on building new relationships, securing referrals, and enhancing our brand presence.
• Team management & development: Provide leadership and direction to the team, ensuring they are motivated, well-supported, and aligned with key business goals.
• Founder support: A key aspect of this role is working closely with the founders—coaching and supporting them to maximise their effectiveness. You’ll play a role in helping them navigate strategic decisions, refine their leadership approach, and drive business growth.
• Operational Oversight: Ensure the agency matchmaking process runs smoothly, maintaining our high standards for both brands and agencies.
• Strategic Partnerships: Identify and cultivate relationships with key industry stakeholders to drive new opportunities and enhance AUFI’s positioning.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting: Track key business metrics, analyse performance, and report insights to the SLT to inform strategic decisions.

About You:

We’re looking for a proactive and commercially minded leader who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and brings a strong growth-focused mindset.

Ideally, you’ll have:

• Strategic leadership experience: A track record of leading teams, driving business growth, and implementing strategy in a creative, agency, or consultancy environment.
• Experience supporting, coaching and getting the most out of founders.
• Client relationship expertise: A strong ability to build, nurture, and expand client and industry relationships.
• Strong commercial acumen: Experience in business development, partnerships, or revenue growth within a creative, service or consultancy business (though we are open to individuals from a range of professional backgrounds).
• Team management skills: A passion and aptitude for coaching, developing, and inspiring teams to achieve high performance.
• Deep knowledge of the agency landscape: Understanding of branding, digital, and marketing agencies and capabilities, with experience working across a range of business sectors.
• Excellent communication & advisory skills: Ability to simplify complex challenges, guide clients, and articulate insights with confidence.
• Adaptability & problem-solving: Comfortable working in a fast-moving environment, identifying opportunities, and driving solutions.

What Success Looks Like for This Role:

At the end of this contract, you will have helped us:

• Keep our various initiatives running:

Ensuring that AUFI’s core operations and business development efforts continue seamlessly, maintaining our high standards for both brands and agencies.

• Help the SLT with:

- Driving and refining AUFI’s growth strategy, ensuring a strong market position.

- Expanding our client network by securing new relationships and increasing brand visibility.

- Overseeing key business metrics, providing data-driven insights, and supporting strategic decision-making.

- Maintaining a strong team culture and ensuring alignment with business goals.

• Upskill the founders through:

- Coaching and mentoring them to enhance their leadership, decision-making, and strategic capabilities.

- Helping them refine their approach to business development, client management, and team leadership.

- Supporting them in optimising internal processes and ways of working, ensuring they feel empowered and equipped to drive AUFI forward beyond this interim period.

Why Join Us?

• Lead a team of talented professionals in a pivotal role, shaping the future of AUFI.
• Work with exciting brands and agencies across multiple industries and sectors.
• Be part of a dynamic and collaborative culture with a flexible and supportive work environment.
• Make a tangible impact on business growth and the future of brand-agency partnerships.
• This is a unique opportunity for a strategic leader to step into a high-impact, interim role, driving growth and operational excellence while working with a passionate and innovative team.

Role specifics:

• Mat leave cover, 9-12 month contract.
• Part / full time 3 or 5 days/week
• Salary FTE £70,000 - £100,000 pa (dependent on experience).
• FTE 25 days paid holiday.
• Hybrid WFH / Office balance.