President, m5

Halifax, NS

Are you ready to lead and shape the future of one of Atlantic Canada's top marketing and communications agencies? m5 is looking for an experienced and dynamic leader to oversee agency operations, drive business growth, and mentor our talented teams. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic executive to enhance m5's industry leadership by fostering a high-performing culture and delivering results-driven solutions.

The Organization

m5 is one of Canada's largest independent agencies, with a legacy that spans decades of delivering impactful campaigns, strategic branding, and creative solutions for an extensive client base. With offices across multiple locations, we bring a regional perspective while executing nationally recognized work. Our diverse team consists of top-tier marketers, creative professionals, digital experts, and media strategists who collaborate to drive measurable results.

We are committed to pushing creative boundaries, leveraging data-driven insights, and developing marketing strategies that resonate with audiences. We pride ourselves on offering full-service marketing solutions tailored to each client's unique needs. Our culture fosters innovation, collaboration, and leadership development, making m5 a dynamic place for growth and impact.

The Role

Reporting to the Board, the President is responsible for the overall success of the organization by providing leadership, planning oversight and stewardship for all aspects of m5 strategic implementation and operations. They will oversee the management of agency teams across multiple locations, ensuring operational efficiency and fostering a strong organizational culture. They will be responsible for enhancing accountability, improving leadership development, and driving the agency's business development efforts while allowing senior partners to focus on strategic expansion.

Key areas of oversight and responsibility are:

Leadership & Team Development

• Leads and oversees teams across various locations to ensure alignment, collaboration, and consistency in execution.
• Establishes accountability structures and mentorship programs to develop emerging leaders within the agency.
• Fosters a positive and collaborative agency culture that attracts and retains top talent.

Strategic Direction & Operational Excellence

• Acts as a trusted advisor and authoritative leader, providing guidance and strategic direction across all agency functions.
• Implements best practices in agency operations, optimizing processes to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensures financial performance targets are met by managing budgets, profitability, and resource allocation effectively.

Client & Business Development

• Strengthens relationships with clients, ensuring exceptional service delivery and long-term partnership success.
• Collaborates with senior partners to drive business development and revenue growth initiatives.
• Identifies new opportunities and markets to expand the agency's reach and impact.

Accountability & Performance Management

• Establishes clear performance metrics and accountability frameworks across teams.
• Monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success and adjust strategies as needed.
• Provides regular feedback and insights to leadership to ensure continuous improvement.

The Ideal Candidate

As the ideal candidate, you are an entrepreneurial leader who thinks outside of the box, with exceptional leadership, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. You are passionate about marketing and thrive in a fast-paced agency environment. You are a strategic and results-oriented leader with a proven track record of leading and mentoring high-performing teams, driving business growth, and optimizing operational efficiencies. You are a confident and approachable leader, capable of fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and collaboration. You are a capable project manager and can foster a high-performing team culture. You are a decisive, compassionate, and communicative leader with strong team management skills that have earned you the respect of your team and peers.

Qualifications and Experience

While the Search Committee recognizes that no one candidate is likely to meet all qualifications in equal measure, those listed below are desirable and will be used to compare candidates.

• Extensive leadership experience in an agency environment or a related field with strong knowledge of agency operations.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire high-performing teams, mentoring and developing senior-level talent.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance strategic vision and operational execution.
• Confident, approachable, and capable of fostering trust and engagement across teams.
• Experience managing multi-location operations and driving organizational change.

Skills and Attributes

• Decisiveness combined with a facilitative style, leading with integrity and creativity, and sound judgment.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills with both internal teams and external clients.
• Business development and growth-oriented mindset with a focus on driving profitability.
• Exceptional relational skills, able to quickly build trusting relationships.
• Superior skill in strategic financial and organizational management.
• Excellent communication skills - able to seamlessly translate complex information for different audiences.

Why Join Us?

• Collaborative Culture: Work in a supportive environment where teamwork and transparency are key values.
• Impactful Leadership: Play a critical role in shaping the future of a premier agency.
• Professional Growth: Join an organization that values continuous learning and development, with opportunities to shape strategy at a senior level.

How to Apply

m5 is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women; people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; Indigenous peoples; visible minorities/racialized people; and people with disabilities.

We will provide support and accommodations to applicants with disabilities, upon request. If you need accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] or communicate your needs to the recruitment professional named in the job description.

We are committed to finding the right leader for this role and will prioritize fit over immediate placement. If you are an experienced, dynamic leader looking for an opportunity to drive growth and mentor top talent in an established, leading agency, we want to hear from you.

If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Michelle Doyle at [email protected] or Dr. Jennie Massey at [email protected] or submit your full application package online at: https://www.kbrs.ca/Career/17373972716090000008ceb