Managing Director
The agency compass—managing directors steer business growth, lead teams, and maintain the vision that powers the brand. They are leaders of the pack.
What is a Managing Director?
The captain, the compass, the culture-setter
Creative agencies thrive on big ideas—but someone has to hold the vision, the business, and the people together. That’s the Managing Director.
They don’t just run the show—they steer it.
Part CEO energy, part mentor, part fixer, they’re responsible for making sure the agency doesn’t just make noise—it makes money, momentum, and meaning.
At RIOT, the Managing Director isn’t buried in spreadsheets. They’re out front—protecting the team, pushing the vision, and keeping everything in motion.
What do they actually do?
The Managing Director (MD) is the operational and strategic head of an agency. They oversee the full spectrum of business performance—balancing growth, creative output, client relationships, and team culture.
Key responsibilities:
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Leading agency strategy, revenue goals, and long-term planning
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Managing key client relationships and growth opportunities
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Overseeing department leads and ensuring team alignment
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Driving profitability, efficiency, and operational excellence
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Shaping agency culture, talent development, and retention
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Being the final decision-maker when the stakes are high
They’re not just managing the day-to-day—they’re defining what the agency is and where it’s going.
What’s in their toolkit?
An MD needs clarity, foresight, and people-first leadership. Their tools help them track, guide, and optimize the whole system:
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Business tools: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Notion
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Project oversight: Asana, Monday.com, Jira
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Finance & ops: Harvest, QuickBooks, Workamajig, Tableau
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CRM & client platforms: HubSpot, Salesforce
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Culture & communication: Slack, Zoom, Officevibe, Lattice
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Dashboards: Custom KPI trackers, pipeline reports, talent heatmaps
But more than software, their true toolkit is made of trust, vision, and presence.
Why it matters for creative agencies
Without a strong MD, even the best agency starts to wobble. Vision gets diluted. Clients feel it. Teams burn out.
But with the right MD in place?
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Big-picture strategy becomes tangible execution
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Growth is sustainable, not chaotic
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Creative gets the support it needs to thrive
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Clients trust the process—and come back for more
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The agency becomes more than a place—it becomes a movement
The MD is the protector of both momentum and meaning.
A day in the life—strategy meets stewardship
It’s a Monday. Revenue targets are due. A key client just changed direction. The creative team is stretched thin. There’s a pitch on Wednesday.
The Managing Director:
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Aligns department leads around new priorities
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Steps into the client call to recalibrate expectations
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Meets with HR to plan team restructuring
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Joins a creative review to help unblock a direction
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Checks the agency pulse—what’s working, what needs attention
It’s leadership without ego. Action with empathy.
What makes a great Managing Director?
It’s not just about being in charge—it’s about being in tune. A great MD knows how to shift gears between business, people, and creative—without ever losing sight of the bigger picture.
Key traits:
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Strategic thinker with commercial acumen
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Calm under pressure, sharp under scrutiny
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Empathetic leader who champions talent
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Clear communicator with strong vision
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Respected by clients, trusted by teams
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Obsessed with progress, not just performance
They’re not the loudest voice in the room—but they’re the one the room turns to.
Most Notable Managing Directors in the Creative Arts
- Frances Morris – Former Director of Tate Modern. Transformed the gallery into a globally inclusive, forward-thinking hub for contemporary art.
- Lyor Cohen – Global Head of Music at YouTube and former CEO of Def Jam. Key figure in the rise of hip-hop as a dominant commercial and cultural force.
- Kanya King – Founder & MD of the MOBO Awards. Pioneered mainstream recognition for Black British music and culture.
- Tony Hall – Former Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House and Director-General of the BBC. Known for digitizing and democratizing access to the arts.
- Rebecca Allen – President of Island Records US and former MD of Decca Records UK. Helped modernize classical music’s image and marketability.
- Sadie Coles – Founder & MD of Sadie Coles HQ. Major figure in the global contemporary art scene, known for bold, progressive programming.
- Jonathan Ive – Former Chief Design Officer at Apple, now leading LoveFrom. While not titled MD, his post-Apple studio functions as a high-concept creative business.
- Anne McNeil – Founder & MD of Just Isn’t Music (Ninja Tune Publishing). Known for bringing underground artists into the sync and licensing spotlight.
- Alex Poots – Founding Artistic Director and CEO of The Shed in NYC. Merges avant-garde art with operational excellence, creating culturally seismic experiences.
- Tracy Emin & Carl Freedman – Artist-entrepreneur duo. Co-lead the Carl Freedman Gallery, blending creative legacy with business innovation in the art world.
RIOT’s POV
At RIOT, the Managing Director is more than a title—they’re a force. They carry the weight of the business, so creatives can focus on rebellion. They balance fire and focus. And they make sure every decision we make drives both culture and commercial success.
They’re not behind the scenes.
They’re at the front—backing the team, pushing the work, and building the future.
Related Glossary Terms
Agency Leadership, Strategic Planning, Client Services, P&L Management, Creative Operations, Talent Development
Related Job Roles
CEO, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Agency, Executive Producer, Chief Creative Officer, Strategy Director
