Ignata Finance - a ZRG Partners Company | UK Country Manager

UK Country Manager – privately owned luxury retail business – London.

This is a pivotal time to join the business as it has recently been acquired and the group would like to hire their first UK Country Manager. It will be an opportunity to invest in the company, grow sales across retail, wholesale & ecommerce. Currently the business does £30m and is looking to reach £50m as the collaboration with group is achieved.

In this role, you assume full P&L responsibility for the UK and also serve as the head of the UK management team, which includes the Finance Director, Marketing & IT Director, Operational Director, and Commercial Director. For this reason, we can only consider candidates who are used to having full P&L responsibility for their region/business.

As the UK Country Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing and professionalizing all operations & retail shops across the UK including a boutique hotel and other hospitality sites.

Additionally, you will be managing back-office functions including operations, finance, marketing and IT, supporting and promoting the company-wide introduction of an ERP system.

You will play a key role in driving the sales growth whilst increasing profitability, enhance customer experiences and lead a team of professionals to achieve business objectives in a dynamic luxury retail environment.

You will have the end responsibility in professionalizing and redesigning the UK company structure where needed and implement new and more efficient ways-of-working.

You will work closely with HQ management to ensure alignment with corporate strategies and objectives.

Position Description:

▪ Retail Management: Oversee the daily operations of shops, ensuring a high standard of customer service and product presentation. Monitor sales performance and implement sales strategies to drive profitability across all our luxury offerings;

▪ Back Office Management: Manage Backoffice and supporting functions to ensure seamless operations. Develop cohesive marketing strategies that elevate the brand’s presence across all divisions. Collaborate with finance teams on budgeting, forecasting, and reporting;

▪ Team Leadership: Serve as the head of the UK management team, leading and mentoring a diverse group of directors. Foster a positive work environment that encourages collaboration and high performance across all luxury product lines;

▪ Strategic Development: Identify market trends and opportunities for growth. Develop and implement strategic plans to increase market share and expand brand awareness;

▪ Customer Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with key clients, stakeholders and industry partners. First representative of the brand in the UK;

▪ Collaboration with HQ: Work closely with management at the headquarters in Europe to ensure consistency in strategy and operations. Facilitate effective communication and coordination between the UK team and HQ to optimize business performance;

▪ IT Affinity: Ensure effective use of IT systems for e-commerce, inventory management, sales tracking, and customer relationship management. Foster a technology-driven approach to improve operational efficiency across all business segments.

Candidate Profile:

▪ Proven experience in luxury retail management, with a strong understanding of the unique dynamics of the high-end market; experience with hotels and luxury accessories is an asset;

▪ Extensive management experience in retail, with a comprehensive background in overseeing store operations, e-commerce and back-office functions;

▪ Strong leadership and people management skills with a track record of building high-performing teams and implementing change;

▪ Excellent knowledge of financial management, marketing principles and IT systems relevant to retail operations;

▪ Ability to work in a structured manner while remaining adaptable to changing circumstances and challenges;

▪ Strong presence and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with customers and team members;

▪ Passion for luxury products with a well-informed understanding of the market drivers.