Executive Director, AI Strategy & Brand Governance

Executive Director, AI Strategy & Brand Governance

Location: New York or London

Role Overview

FutureBrand is seeking an Executive Director, AI Strategy & Brand Governance to lead the evolution of our Brand Governance practice—bringing together client leadership, AI-powered product innovation, and hands-on delivery.

This is a senior, hybrid role at the intersection of brand, technology, and commercialization. It combines:

• Building and scaling a market-facing AI-enabled offer
• Owning and evolving our proprietary OnBrand AI platform
• Leading senior client relationships and driving revenue
• Delivering complex brand governance programs end-to-end

As brands scale across markets, platforms, and content ecosystems, governance has become a critical driver of cost efficiency, consistency, and brand value—not just control. https://interpublic-my.sharepoint.com/personal/csmith2_futurebrand_com/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc={38BC25EB-BE58-46D9-B5BA-FD67C9980BB5}&file=FB_brand governance (2).pptx&action=edit&mobileredirect=true

This role will position FutureBrand at the forefront of that shift—transforming governance into a data-driven,

AI-powered performance system.

Context: FutureBrand Brand Governance

We define brand governance as the operating system that turns brand strategy into consistent, trusted behavior at scale. Our approach integrates three pillars:

• Brand Guardianship — roles, responsibilities, decision rights
• Brand Compliance — workflows, processes, approvals
• Brand Performance — measurement, analytics, and optimization

These are enabled through:

• Brand Hub platforms (content, DAM, workflow, reporting)
• OnBrand AI, our proprietary AI-driven compliance and performance tool

OnBrand AI – Platform Overview

OnBrand AI is FutureBrand’s multi-agent brand and design review system, built to:

• Assess visual and verbal compliance in real time
• Provide automated creative review and feedback
• Measure brand effectiveness and audience resonance
• Reduce manual review time and improve consistency at scale

The platform combines:

• Computer vision (logo, color, typography detection)
• LLM-based reasoning (tone of voice, messaging)
• Deterministic rules engines aligned to brand guidelines
• Multi-agent workflows across brand elements https://interpublic-my.sharepoint.com/personal/csmith2_futurebrand_com/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc={38BC25EB-BE58-46D9-B5BA-FD67C9980BB5}&file=FB_brand governance (2).pptx&action=edit&mobileredirect=true

The opportunity now is to develop this into a fully scalable, commercial product and client offering.

Core Responsibilities

1. Commercial & Client Leadership

• Lead commercialization of AI-enabled Brand Governance solutions, including OnBrand AI
• Identify, shape, and convert new business opportunities across clients and the wider network
• Act as senior client lead—pitching, selling, and embedding the offer at C-suite level
• Translate client challenges into scalable, productized solutions

2. Product Ownership & AI Strategy

• Own the roadmap and evolution of OnBrand AI from prototype to scalable product
• Define feature development, integrations, and long-term SaaS potential
• Partner closely with engineers to translate brand requirements into technical solutions
• Stay at the forefront of AI advancements (LLMs, computer vision, automation) and apply them to:
• Brand compliance and governance
• Content evaluation and generation
• Workflow automation and optimization

3. Brand Governance Practice Leadership

• Lead and grow FutureBrand’s global Brand Governance practice
• Define methodologies, tools, and best practices across:
• Governance strategy and operating models
• Governance playbooks
• Brand hub implementation
• AI-enabled compliance and performance
• Build capability and embed this offer across regions

4. Delivery & Implementation (Hands-On)

• Lead and deliver client engagements end-to-end, including:
• Brand diagnostics and audits
• Governance playbooks and operating models
• Workflow and approval system design
• Brand Hub and AI tool deployment
• Ensure excellence across:
• Guardianship (structures, roles, ownership)
• Compliance (processes, workflows, audit)
• Performance (KPIs, dashboards, measurement)
• Step into ongoing programs to ensure continuity, quality, and successful delivery

5. Internal Impact & Capability Building

• Embed AI across internal workflows to drive efficiency and margin improvement
• Establish standards, governance, and best practices for AI usage
• Partner with global teams to scale capability and delivery

Candidate Profile

Experience

• 15 years across a combination of:
• Brand strategy / brand management
• Digital product, platforms, or SaaS
• AI, data, or technology-led consulting
• Proven experience building and commercializing new capabilities or products
• Strong track record leading senior client relationships and driving revenue growth

AI & Technical Fluency

• Strong understanding of:
• AI/ML (LLMs, computer vision, automation)
• Product development and platform ecosystems
• APIs, integrations, and data-driven systems
• Ability to translate between:
• Strategic/creative brand needs
• Technical implementation requirements
• Experience working directly with engineers and product teams

Leadership & Commercial Skills

• Entrepreneurial, with a strong build mindset
• Highly credible with senior clients (C-suite)
• Excellent storytelling and pitching capability
• Experience leading cross-functional, global teams
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and scaling new offers

Success Measures

• Revenue growth driven by AI and Brand Governance offerings
• Successful scaling and commercialization of OnBrand AI
• Client adoption and expansion of AI-enabled governance solutions
• Delivery excellence and client satisfaction
• Measurable efficiency gains in delivery and workflows
• Growth and maturity of the global Brand Governance practice

Salary Range: $200,000 - $230,000 (to commensurate with experience)

Equal Employment Opportunity

We believe that ideas get better when they are inherently diverse and shared in highly inclusive ways,

and we want to hear from those who think differently from us. We truly believe in the strength of

diversity and the richness it can bring. By bringing different people together great things happen.

FUTUREBRAND is an equal opportunity employer (EEO). We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information, or any characteristic protected by federal law. We will not ask about incarceration history at any point in the application process.