Director, Strategic Partnership & Business Development, APAC

Director, Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, APAC

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Director to be based in Singapore, to lead strategic partnerships and business development initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region for our Data & Research business line within the Corporate segment. This role requires a dynamic leader who can drive commercial outcomes, govern complex partnership structures, and influence cross-functional teams. The successful candidate will be responsible for regional governance of redistribution deals, AI-integrated client solutions, and expanding our footprint in competitive and emerging markets.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Partnership Development

• Lead regional partnership and alliance strategy, including governance of redistribution deals and complex partnership structures across APAC markets
• Design and execute innovative partnership models that drive sustainable ACV growth and pipeline creation
• Standardize successful deal models and playbooks to support organizational scalability and commercial excellence
• Break into competitor-dominated markets through strategic relationship building and localized market approaches
• Commercial Execution & GTM Strategy
• Drive measurable commercial outcomes through strategic prioritization and execution of Go-To-Market campaigns
• Conduct extensive client engagement and business development initiatives to generate qualified leads and opportunities
• Deliver landmark partnership wins, including AI-integrated solutions and corporate feed bundles
• Support sell-side opportunities in non-English-speaking markets, requiring cultural fluency and market adaptation
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Innovation
• Influence product, revenue, marketing, and global teams to align roadmaps with regional market needs and AI commercialization priorities
• Lead thought leadership initiatives, internal education programs, and executive communication strategies
• Create multilingual sales assets and localized content to support diverse stakeholder engagement
• Drive innovation in pricing frameworks, partnership structures, and client solution design
• Regional Governance & Strategic Oversight
• Provide strategic oversight and compliance guidance for redistribution deals across the region
• Lead cross-segment decision-making and coordination to enhance footprint expansion and ecosystem growth
• Manage indirect and dotted-line relationships with regional stakeholders to ensure alignment with broader organizational KPIs
• Support succession planning and leadership continuity for strategically important business areas

Qualifications

Required Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic partnerships, business development, product management or commercial leadership roles within B2B technology, data, or financial services industries
• Strong command of client (i.e. valuation, benchmarking, deal sourcing, lending, credit risk, etc) workflows, acquired from working at a financial institution or vendor servicing financial institutions
• Proven track record of designing and executing complex partnership structures and driving measurable revenue outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence senior stakeholders without formal authority
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in pricing strategy, deal structuring, and GTM execution
• Thought leadership experience (blogs, white papers, speaking at industry events)
• Regional leadership experience in APAC markets, with cultural fluency and ability to navigate non-English-speaking business environments

Leadership Qualities

• Strategic thinker with ability to balance long-term vision with tactical execution
• Proactive learning mindset with commitment to continuous professional development
• Excellent executive communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work independently while maintaining strong collaborative relationships across global teams
• Innovation-driven approach to problem-solving and market expansion

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AI-integrated solutions and emerging technology commercialization
• Background in data, research, or market intelligence products
• Multilingual capabilities (particularly Asian languages)
• Experience in succession planning and leadership development