Director, Client Growth & Partnerships, Asia

Job Description: Rakuten Group, Inc. is a global leader in internet services and has a diverse ecosystem spanning across e-commerce, fintech, communications and more serving approximately 1.8 billion members worldwide. Founded in Tokyo in 1997, the Group operates in over 30 countries and regions with more than 30,000 employees. Based in Singapore's Central Business District, Rakuten Asia Pte. Ltd. serves as the regional headquarters for Asia, driving value through areas such as advertising product development, product strategy, and data management to support Rakuten Group's global ecosystem. Learn more at: The division you will be working for is Rakuten Advertising. Rakuten Advertising leads the industry in delivering performance-driven, brand- driven and people-driven ad solutions. We help the world’s top brands connect with unique, highly engaged audiences – from first impression to final sale. At Rakuten Advertising, our calling card is outthinking the competition and outperforming your expectations. Our experienced and award-winning full-service teams work to create the best ad experiences for brands, audiences and affiliates alike – one where people get the right message at the right time to drive attention, action, loyalty and value. The Director, Client Growth & Partnerships, Asia will lead Rakuten Advertising's portfolio of high growth regional brands and marketplace clients across Asia. This role is responsible for developing and executing regional client strategies, strengthening executive relationships, driving revenue growth, and supporting clients' cross border expansion ambitions. The Director will act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders while partnering closely with internal commercial, publisher, product, and operational teams to deliver measurable business outcomes. The role will also play a key leadership function within the Asia Client Services organisation, helping shape the servicing model, develop talent, and establish best practices for managing large enterprise advertisers across multiple markets. This position requires a highly strategic leader with deep experience managing regional ecommerce, marketplace, retail, and digital first brands across Asia, coupled with strong commercial acumen and executive presence. Responsibilities Strategic Client Leadership • Own and lead a portfolio of Rakuten Advertising's largest and most strategic regional advertisers. • Develop long term account growth strategies aligned to client business objectives and expansion plans. • Act as executive sponsor and trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders. • Build and maintain relationships with C Suite, VP, Director, and regional leadership teams. • Lead annual business planning, strategic reviews, and executive business discussions. Revenue Growth & Commercial Leadership • Drive retention, revenue growth, and expansion opportunities across assigned accounts. • Identify opportunities to increase advertiser investment, geographic expansion, and service adoption. • Partner with Sales and Commercial leadership on contract renewals, upsell opportunities, and strategic account planning. • Develop business cases and commercial recommendations that support client growth objectives. Cross Border & Regional Expansion • Support clients expanding into new markets across Asia and globally. • Coordinate regional account strategies across local market teams. • Ensure consistency in service delivery, performance standards, and strategic execution across markets. • Partner with global teams to support multinational growth initiatives and market entry plans. Marketplace & Enterprise Leadership • Develop expertise across ecommerce, marketplaces, retail, travel, fintech, and emerging digital commerce sectors. • Advise clients on industry trends, competitive positioning, partnership opportunities, and performance marketing strategies. • Lead complex enterprise engagements involving multiple stakeholders and business units. • Support strategic initiatives that strengthen Rakuten Advertising's position within the marketplace and digital commerce ecosystem. Team Leadership & Organisational Development • Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to Client Services team members. • Establish best practices, servicing frameworks, and operational standards. • Support succession planning and talent development within the organisation. • Foster collaboration across Client Services, Publisher Development, Sales, Product, Operations, and Marketing teams. Executive Stakeholder Management • Act as senior escalation point for strategic client issues. • Present business performance, market insights, and growth recommendations to executive audiences. • Represent Rakuten Advertising at industry events, conferences, and client leadership meetings. • Build strong relationships with internal senior leadership across Asia and global teams.