Head of Strategy & Execution, Market-Leading Car Buying Business, UK

I’m partnering with a market-leading, fast‑growing car buying company to recruit an exceptional Head of Strategy & Execution. This is a senior operational leadership role for someone who thrives on turning vision into delivery and driving measurable results across multiple teams.

About the Company: A Global Leader in Car Buying Innovation. My client is the clear leader in their category and one of the fastest‑growing car buying companies globally. In the UK alone, they generate more than 100,000 customer enquiries each month and handle thousands of vehicle purchases through their high‑traffic digital platforms and national operations. Following 15+ years of profitable growth, they have now expanded across multiple US States with strong momentum and an ambitious plan to scale nationwide. Despite their size and profitability, the culture remains entrepreneurial, energetic and driven, combining the excitement of a start‑up with the security of an established, fast‑scaling business.

Head of Strategy and Execution Role Overview. This role is all about alignment, clarity and delivery. My client’s directors will continue to set the core strategy. Your role is to activate it, translating high‑level direction into clear goals, driving company‑wide focus and ensuring progress happens quickly and cohesively. You will design and own the business‑wide OKR or performance framework, ensuring every team understands what they’re delivering, why it matters and how success will be measured. You’ll lead planning cycles, run cross‑functional review sessions, spot issues early and drive solutions before they become problems. You’ll work closely with the UK and US leadership teams, acting as the operational connective tissue across the company, ensuring alignment, momentum and accountability. This is perfect for someone who combines energy, pace and a hands‑on approach with strong strategic clarity.

Key Strategic Leadership Responsibilities

• Rapidly develop deep understanding of the business across operations, finance, technology and customer journey
• Select, implement and manage the company’s OKR or performance management software
• Own the design and delivery of the company‑wide goal framework
• Translate Director‑led strategy into measurable OKRs and aligned departmental objectives
• Lead quarterly planning cycles and cross‑team performance reviews
• Design and run workshops that strengthen alignment, cohesion and execution
• Track progress, identify risks early and ensure fast corrective action
• Drive cross‑functional collaboration across UK and US teams

What You’ll Bring to the Role: Key Experience and Attributes

• Proven experience in senior strategy, operations or execution roles
• Proven experience managing OKRs or goal frameworks company‑wide
• Demonstrable impact on business growth, supported by figures and outcomes
• Strong workshop design and facilitation experience
• Experience scaling operations into the US market
• Ideally exposure to fast‑paced B2C or lead‑generation‑driven environments
• High levels of gravitas, energy, drive and the ability to motivate others
• Strong analytical, commercial and problem‑solving skills

Whether you’re hiring top talents or considering your next career move, our team would be delighted to support you. Helena Ranger is Principal Consultant leading the Consumer division across PR and Marketing, Helena has played a pivotal role in building high‑performing teams for top global communications firms, independent boutique agencies and in‑house teams of major international brands. Hanson Search is a globally recognised, award‑winning talent advisory and headhunting consultancy. Our expertise lies in building successful ventures worldwide through our recruitment, interim and executive search in communications, sustainability, public affairs and policy, digital marketing and sales. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all.