Senior Account Executive, Performance Solutions, Retail - Microsoft Advertising

Overview

Microsoft Advertising (MSA) empowers the largest advertisers around the world to reach their maximum potential through digital advertising solutions on the Microsoft Advertising platform. We are seeking top performing Account Executives with digital advertising experience who can drive revenue and increase customer satisfaction by developing and cultivating strategic client relationships and delivering customized solutions aligning to the client’s advertising needs. In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

As an Account Executive (AE) in Microsoft Advertising's Retail vertical, you will manage and grow a portfolio of strategic Retail clients by delivering accountable, outcome-led advertising solutions. You will develop and execute multi-quarter account plans independently, build trusted relationships with senior marketing decision-makers, and lead complex, high-value deals end-to-end. You will apply deep retail industry knowledge to translate Microsoft Advertising's AI-powered capabilities into relevant business outcomes, supporting clients navigating regulatory change, first-party data strategies, and performance marketing in a privacy-first environment.

This opportunity will allow you to grow your impact as a trusted advisor in one of Microsoft Advertising's most strategically important verticals, enabling Microsoft to better serve strategic retail customers by applying genuine customer obsession to what clients care about most. You will develop and maintain solid relationships anchored on connections with C-level executives and senior Business and Technical Decision Makers in client organisations, build quality account plans that lay out clear revenue and growth strategies, and ensure the Microsoft Advertising story is valued and understood at the highest levels. Your success will be measured by specific indicators focused on driving adoption, emphasising customer experience, and optimising opportunities—executing with excellence to drive both revenue and customer satisfaction across MSA's performance solutions. You will also develop your AI-led selling capability and build your leadership presence across the broader team. This role is flexible in that you can work up to 50% away from the office.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Starting January 26, 2026, Microsoft AI (MAI) employees who live within a 50- mile commute of a designated Microsoft office in the U.S. or 25-mile commute of a non-U.S., country-specific location are expected to work from the office at least three days per week. This expectation is subject to local law and may vary by jurisdiction.

Responsibilities

• Execute and refine account plans for a portfolio of strategic retail clients, developing clear revenue growth strategies and identifying share-of-wallet opportunities across MSA's product portfolio—including Search, Audience, Retail Media, and Performance Max—with growing independence and a solid personal accountability for outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships with senior marketing decision-makers—including CMOs, Heads of Digital Marketing, and senior agency partners—within retail organisations, establishing credibility as a knowledgeable and reliable Microsoft Advertising partner with a genuine understanding of the sector's challenges and priorities.
• Support and lead complex deal negotiations across retail accounts, taking increasing ownership of deal narrative and close motion, and working in close partnership with the v-team—including Performance Solutions, MATS, and specialist product partners—to drive client verifiable outcomes at every stage of the MSA Solution Selling process.
• Apply and share deep retail expertise translating these into clear, client-relevant advertising investment decisions and contributing that knowledge to the broader team's understanding of how to win in the vertical.
• Engage confidently in AI-led conversations with retail clients, applying Microsoft Advertising's AI-powered capabilities to client-specific challenges—including privacy-safe measurement, performance automation, and audience intelligence—and guiding clients beyond initial pilots toward more embedded adoption within their advertising programmes.
• Drive pipeline rigour and consistent sales execution in line with MSA Solution Selling standards, maintaining a current and accurate view of top opportunities, proactively identifying roadblocks, and ensuring the right resources are engaged to progress deals and overcome client objections.
• Share retail market and client insights with peers and the wider team, providing active support on deal reviews and account planning within the Retail vertical, and helping build the team's working knowledge of the sector's competitive dynamics—positioning yourself as a reliable point of reference for Retail-related questions and opportunities.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing, or related field AND experience in sales, advertising, or marketing with a focus on online media, or digital advertising

• OR Master's Degree in Business Administration in Sales, Marketing, or related field AND experience in sales, advertising, or marketing with a focus on online media, or digital advertising
• ORexperience in sales, advertising, or marketing with a focus on online media, or digital advertising
• OR equivalent experience.

• Experience in online media, digital advertising, or Search Engine Marketing Sales and Service experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing, or related field AND experience in sales, advertising, or marketing with a focus on online media, or digital advertising OR Master's Degree in Business Administration in Sales, Marketing, or related field AND experience in sales, advertising, or marketing with a focus on online media, or digital advertising

• OR equivalent experience.

• Demonstrated track record of consistent quota achievement through independently managing and growing strategic enterprise accounts, with evidence of sustained revenue growth and executive-level relationship development.
• Proven ability to manage an industry or vertical portfolio as a trusted sales partner in complex or specialist contexts — applying deep vertical knowledge to translate platform capabilities into client-relevant business outcomes, organising vertical events, and representing Microsoft externally as a credible spokesperson for the sector.
• Experience engaging mid- to senior-level executives within retail organisations making credible recommendations that inform advertising strategy and investment decisions.
• Familiarity with complex or regulated industry environments and their implications for digital advertising strategy — including data privacy frameworks, first-party data strategies, and measurement approaches.
• Experience with AI-powered advertising solutions, including privacy-safe measurement, incrementality, or performance marketing automation.

#MicrosoftAI

Advertising Account Management IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across United Kingdom is £ 95,300.00 - £ 136,100.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Find additional benefits and pay information here:

https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/united-kingdom-corporate-pay.html

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.