5W, the AI Communications Firm, is hiring a Chief Growth Officer to lead a $10M+ new ARR push in Year 1 — the most aggressive new business mandate the agency has put in market in its 20-year history. The role sits on the executive team with a direct line to the Chairman and carries full ownership of new revenue across proprietary AI products, paid, social, research, content, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), AI visibility, digital, influencer, and crisis. The hire will build out the outbound BD organization, run inbound conversion, and help drive the agency reposition from a traditional PR model into a category-defining AI Communications Firm.
The move signals 5W's repositioning from a top U.S. PR agency into the category-defining AI Communications Firm — a bet that the next decade of communications spend follows buyers into ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews.
The Mandate
Year 1 targets the agency has put on the role:
$10M+ in new ARR
Three anchor clients at $1M+
60% measurement and analytics attach rate on retainers
Average deal size up 40%
Pricing on the AI service line is set at $25K–$75K/month retainers with $1M+ anchor accounts.
Compensation
Base of $300K–$450K, OTE $600K–$850K, plus equity participation. The agency is also opening a partner channel across martech platforms, AI platforms, and holding company referrals.
Who They Want
Per the spec: 10+ years selling services at $1M+ deal sizes from agency, consulting, or martech. Candidates must have built and run a BD organization — not just carried a bag — and be fluent in how AI is reshaping buyer research enough to sell into CMOs and General Counsel without leaning on a deck.
"Track record beats pedigree. Show me the number," reads the listing. Applicants are asked to submit the largest deal they have ever closed and how they closed it.
Why It Matters
The CGO hire is the commercial engine behind 5W's agency reposition strategy as the first PR agency to build a measurable AI visibility practice.
