Chief Merchandising Officer

London | Permanent | Executive

Our client is a well-known UK consumer retail business, backed by an international parent group. The UK business serves a large, loyal customer base through multiple channels.

The company is appointing a Chief Merchandising Officer for the UK business. This is the senior commercial role in the market. It carries full P&L accountability and senior people leadership responsibility, and it reports into the group's international leadership.

The role

• Own the UK trading performance and P&L, with accountability for revenue, margin and cost against plan
• Set the merchandising and commercial strategy for the market, including category direction, product mix and range planning
• Lead the weekly trading rhythm, balancing the immediate number against decisions that build long-term value
• Strengthen vendor and brand partnerships, and rebuild the buying capability that brings in new and exclusive product
• Use customer insight and trading data to sharpen how product is planned, presented and sold across every channel
• Set and implement the strategy for new market entry
• Lead an experienced senior commercial team, and build the depth and succession beneath it

What you'll bring

• Senior commercial or general management experience with full P&L accountability at scale, ideally in retail, e-commerce, or consumer
• Real depth across merchandising, trading and customer, and the financial judgement to make sound investment calls that add accretive value to the company
• The ability to balance the needs of an existing and typically loyal customer base with driving new customer acquisition via exciting new channels
• Experience leading through a senior team, rather than running functions personally

The role is based in London with travel to the company's other locations as required.

The package is a competitive executive base salary, with an annual bonus and long-term incentive. We handle all approaches in strict confidence.

BH37388