account director
A senior agency role responsible for the overall client relationship and the commercial health of one or more accounts.
Definition
An account director leads the relationship between an agency and its clients. The role covers setting expectations, overseeing teams, agreeing budgets and scope, resolving problems and spotting growth opportunities. Account directors sit above account managers and usually sell new work to existing clients. For a client, they are the escalation point when something is off. Ask in a pitch how involved the director will be after the contract is signed, not just during the sales phase. If you notice the director only appears at pitches and reviews, say so early and agree a regular rhythm of contact.
In a sentence
The account director joined the quarterly review to discuss next year's priorities.
The client escalated the scheduling problem to the account director.
