KARLA OTTO
Account Director / Senior Account Director, Fashion Communications
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Karla Otto Overview
Karla Otto is a globally recognised public relations and communications agency, founded in 1982, with offices in 15 key cities across the UK, EMEA, US, and Asia. With a strong presence in fashion capitals such as Milan, London, Paris, and New York, the agency has built a reputation for representing some of the most prestigious names in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.
In 2017, Karla Otto merged with K2 to form THE INDEPENDENTS, a global marketing, design, and communications group. This collective brings together industry leaders who share a commitment to innovation, excellence, and thoughtful collaboration across the luxury and lifestyle sectors.
At Karla Otto, our team of expert strategists, designers, planners, and publicists are dedicated to delivering exceptional results and establishing long-term partnerships with our clients. We are passionate about the world of fashion, beauty, and luxury, with everyone bringing their unique expertise and insights to the table. We are driven by a shared commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the ever-evolving industry landscape.
To support the continued growth of our agency, we are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Account Director / Senior Account Director to join our London team.
Role Overview
The ideal candidate will have a strong track record working across fashion, lifestyle, and culture-led brands, with the strategic, commercial, and leadership skills to manage senior client relationships, develop impactful communications strategies, and contribute to the continued growth of both our clients and the agency.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the strategic direction and day-to-day management of key client accounts, ensuring activity is aligned with clients’ commercial ambitions and long-term brand objectives.
- Develop and implement creative, innovative, and impactful strategies across collection and product launches, product focuses, events, partnerships, and wider communications activity.
- Act as a trusted senior adviser to clients, building strong, credible relationships and providing proactive counsel across communications, media, and industry opportunities.
- Confidently lead challenging conversations with clients, managing expectations and delivering clear, considered recommendations where required.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior media, cultural, and industry stakeholders, including print, digital, and social media contacts, editors, influencers, and key opinion leaders.
- Act as a senior brand ambassador for Karla Otto, representing the agency and its clients with credibility across the fashion, lifestyle, and cultural landscape.
- Maintain a strong understanding of industry developments, cultural trends, and competitive landscapes, identifying opportunities and challenges relevant to clients’ commercial ambitions.
- Use quantitative and qualitative data, alongside industry insight, to evaluate the impact and ROI of client activity and inform future strategy.
- Lead, mentor, and develop Account Managers, Coordinators, and Assistants, providing clear direction, regular feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Take ownership of team performance and resource management, ensuring high standards of delivery, collaboration, and accountability across accounts.
- Oversee fashion show management, including seating, third-party supplier relationships, guest management, and all associated logistics during fashion week.
- Play an active and senior role in new business development, contributing to pitches, meetings, and presentations, and representing the Karla Otto brand with confidence.
- Identify and develop opportunities to elevate emerging and established brands through strategic partnerships, high-profile media relationships, and influential industry connections.
- Proactively identify opportunities to grow existing client relationships and contribute to the wider commercial growth of the agency.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture, with a strong focus on feedback, development, and continuous improvement.
- Represent Karla Otto at relevant industry events, meetings, and functions, building the agency’s profile and strengthening its network of senior relationships.
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Key Attributes
- Extensive and proven experience in a senior PR, communications, or brand role, with experience working across fashion, lifestyle, and culture-led brands.
- Proven experience operating at Account Director or Senior Account Director level, with a strong track record of leading client relationships and delivering strategic communications programmes.
- Strong commercial awareness and an ability to understand and respond to clients’ wider business objectives.
- Exceptional client management skills, with the confidence and maturity to operate as a trusted senior adviser.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with proven experience managing, mentoring, and developing teams.
- In-depth understanding of, and active interest in, the fashion, lifestyle, luxury, media, and wider cultural landscape.
- A strategic and creative thinker who can translate insight and industry knowledge into compelling opportunities and ideas.
- Proactive and opportunistic, with the ability to identify new communication, partnership, and business development opportunities.
- Strong network of relevant media, cultural, and industry contacts, with the ability to build relationships at a senior level.
- Proven experience working in a fast-paced agency environment, managing multiple priorities and delivering to demanding deadlines.
- Significant fashion show management experience is essential.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and remain calm under pressure.
- Discreet, professional, confident, and articulate, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong presentation skills and the ability to communicate strategic ideas clearly and persuasively to senior audiences.
- A collaborative and solutions-focused approach, with excellent judgement, initiative, and common sense.
- Strong computer skills, including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Fashion GPS.
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About Karla Otto
At Karla Otto, we are always looking for personalities with positive charisma who are enthusiastic, self-motivated, and have a keen sense of aesthetics.
Karla Otto embraces and celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Karla Otto provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our team!
Founded in 1982, Karla Otto is a full-service brand-building agency specialising in fashion, design, beauty, lifestyle, arts, and culture, operating from fifteen cities across the globe.
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