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 …