Principal, Consumer & Retail

At Gate One, our Principals are trusted advisors to senior client leaders, accountable for creating client impact, driving business growth and shaping the future of our consultancy. They build executive relationships, lead complex transformation programmes, develop high-performing teams and play a critical role in growing our business.

In our Consumer & Retail practice, we help leading consumer goods, retail and omnichannel businesses navigate growth, transformation and disruption. Our work spans customer and marketing transformation, digital and technology transformation, operating model design, AI-enabled change and large-scale business transformation.

Whether supporting a grocery retailer, fashion retailer, consumer brand or digital-first business, you will bring credible sector insight and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing modern Consumer & Retail organisations.

As a Principal, you will lead major client relationships and transformation engagements, while supporting the growth of existing accounts, developing new opportunities and helping shape the future of our Consumer & Retail practice.

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders and executive leadership teams.
• Lead complex transformation programmes across consumer goods, retail and omnichannel organisations.
• Shape solutions that address strategic, operational, customer and organisational challenges.
• Provide senior leadership across engagements, ensuring delivery excellence and measurable client outcomes.
• Coach consulting teams to deliver outstanding client impact.

• Build and deepen executive relationships across existing and prospective clients.
• Identify, originate and convert new consulting opportunities within the Consumer & Retail sector.
• Lead proposals, pitches and commercial negotiations.
• Develop propositions, sector credentials and thought leadership aligned to Consumer & Retail.
• Collaborate across Gate One and the wider Havas network to create and grow opportunities.

• Lead, coach and inspire consulting teams across multiple engagements.
• Support the development and progression of Managers, Senior Consultants and Consultants.
• Foster inclusive, high-performing environments where people can thrive.
• Act as a role model for Gate One's values, behaviours and consulting standards.

• Play a leading role in the growth and development of the Consumer & Retail practice.
• Shape our sector strategy, market proposition and go-to-market approach.
• Support recruitment, capability development and thought leadership activities.
• Help shape the culture, direction and long-term success of Gate One.

At this time, we are not able to consider candidates whose experience sits solely within industry roles.

We are particularly interested in individuals with a strong track record of delivering transformation programmes and developing client relationships within the consumer goods, retail or omnichannel sectors.

• A strong track record of developing senior client relationships and acting as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders.
• Significant experience leading transformation programmes within Consumer & Retail organisations.
• Demonstrable success in business development, account growth and opportunity conversion.
• Deep Consumer & Retail sector expertise and an understanding of the commercial, operational and customer dynamics that shape different business models.
• Strong commercial acumen and a focus on delivering measurable client outcomes.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing consulting teams.
• Exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Curiosity, versatility and a passion for solving complex business challenges.

Gate One is a business and digital transformation consultancy dedicated to helping clients thrive. As part of Havas, one of the world's largest global communications groups, creativity is in our DNA and shapes how we think, work and deliver meaningful change.

Our vision is for purpose-driven people to create lasting impact together. We combine creativity, entrepreneurial thinking and consulting rigour to help clients deliver…