Managing Director Retail & Consumer

V&C Associates are partnering with a global entertainment and lifestyle organisation to appoint a Managing Director, Retail & Consumer Experiences — a senior commercial leader to scale a new global venture at the intersection of culture, commerce, and community
.

This is a career‑defining mandate to build a new global category of culture‑led retail, fusing entertainment, brand experience, and consumer engagement into a scalable business. The Managing Director will lead the division as a standalone enterprise —
owning global strategy, operations, team architecture, and commercial performance.

Operating with full P&L accountability and board‑level visibility, the Managing Director will shape the future of a global experiential retail brand. Reporting directly to the President, this leader will navigate complex stakeholder landscapes, drive expansion, and deliver measurable cultural and commercial outcomes.

• Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to enterprise‑wide strategic planning.
• Lead all aspects of division strategy, P&L, and organisational design, within agreed governance frameworks.
• Drive market expansion, format diversification, and digital integration to achieve sustainable scale.
• Partner with creative, data, and brand teams to develop a culture‑centred commercial engine that deepens fan engagement and brand equity.
• Represent the organisation externally with landlords, partners, and cultural stakeholders — maintaining brand integrity and strategic alignment.

• Build the Division – Shape and formalise the retail business around existing global flagships, establishing a scalable foundation of people, systems, and commercial frameworks.
• Prove and Scale – Optimise the current network to deliver proof of concept, then expand internationally through disciplined, insight‑driven growth.
• Cultural Programming – Position experiential activation as the commercial core — transforming stores into cultural stages that drive both connection and performance.
• Lead deliberate, insight‑based expansion (1–2 stores annually), each reinforcing the brand ecosystem.
• Own market selection, site strategy, and partner negotiations with landlords and developers.
• Innovate new retail formats — pop‑ups, festival activations, and integrated venue concepts — to reach audiences beyond traditional footprints.

• Leverage existing global partnerships to unlock new commercial opportunities and elevate brand positioning.
• Develop integrated sponsorship and collaboration models that create value for partners and fans alike.
• Build the data and CRM infrastructure that links physical experiences to the wider digital ecosystem.
• Lead e‑commerce, D2C, and digital engagement strategies, ensuring every physical interaction fuels broader audience and streaming engagement.
• Position the division as a key source of first‑party fan intelligence across the enterprise.

• Proven track record leading consumer, lifestyle, or experiential retail businesses at scale.
• Deep experience in brand strategy, operations, and commercial leadership with a global perspective.
• Skilled in translating culture and creativity into measurable business growth.
• Confident operating in high‑visibility, matrixed environments with board‑level accountability.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the discipline to build structure around creativity and innovation.

This is a high‑impact role for a strategic operator and cultural architect — someone capable of blending brand, commerce, and experience into a unified global business. The successful candidate will define a new model of retail where creativity drives connection, and connection drives growth.