VP, Product, Retail

• Shape and deliver product strategy across Buying, Merchandising, Design and Product Compliance for WBD Global Experiences
• Lead the end-to-end retail product ecosystem across studio tours, flagship stores, pop-ups, e-commerce and Location Based Entertainment
• Translate Warner Bros. Discovery franchises and IP into commercially successful, brand-authentic consumer products
• Lead buying, merchandising and assortment strategy across standalone retail, e-commerce and exit retail
• Craft channel-specific product strategies based on guest mindsets, dwell times, price sensitivity and conversion dynamics
• Define frameworks for exclusive, limited-edition and venue-specific product creation
• Partner with Design to commission and deliver custom-built product ranges
• Establish global assortment architectures and geo-specific ranges
• Lead merchandise planning, demand forecasting, open-to-buy and SKU productivity
• Drive revenue, margin, sell-through and inventory efficiency using analytics and guest insight
• Oversee global design and product development teams
• Balance creative excellence with speed-to-market, cost discipline, quality and scalability
• Define policies and processes for global product compliance, safety, testing and ethical sourcing
• Partner with Legal, EHS, Supply Chain and third-party testing bodies to mitigate risk and ensure market readiness
• Build, inspire and lead high-performing teams across Buying, Merchandising, Design and Compliance, including Director- and Senior Director-level direct reports
• Partner with Franchise, Licensing, Marketing, Retail Operations and external licensees
• Collaborate across the Retail leadership team
• Deliver sustained retail revenue, margin and inventory efficiency growth
• Achieve high guest satisfaction, conversion and product attachment rates
• Maintain strong global compliance outcomes with minimal product risk
• Ensure creative excellence and franchise alignment across product ranges
• Build a scalable, resilient global product organization with strong succession planning

Requirements

• Extensive, senior leadership experience in global retail product, buying, or merchandising, including major High Street, multi-sited operations
• Proven executive oversight of Buying, Merchandising, Design and Product Compliance at scale
• Strong commercial acumen with a track record of driving profitable, IP-led retail businesses
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams across North America, EMEA and APAC
• Deep understanding of global product safety, testing, regulatory standards and quality assurance
• Experience within entertainment, media, themed attractions, or licensed consumer products (strongly preferred)
• Familiarity with owned retail, licensed, JV and third-party operating models (strongly preferred)
• Experience aligning product strategies to content calendars, franchise launches and major brand moments (strongly preferred)
• Demonstrated leadership in sustainability and responsible sourcing (strongly preferred)
• Strategic, commercially driven and decisive
• Deep respect for creative storytelling, brand integrity and guest experience
• Comfortable operating in complex, matrixed global organizations
• Collaborative, influential and confident at executive and board level
• Passionate about fan engagement and immersive branded experiences

Core Competencies

Demonstrates extensive leadership in global retail product strategy, buying, and merchandising, with a strong focus on driving revenue and ensuring product compliance. Capable of leading multidisciplinary teams while maintaining brand integrity and guest experience across diverse markets.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Global Retail Product Strategy
• Buying And Merchandising Leadership
• Product Compliance And Safety Standards
• Team Leadership And Development
• Commercial Acumen In IP-Led Retail

Hard Skills

• Merchandise Planning
• Demand Forecasting
• SKU Productivity
• Revenue And Margin Optimization
• Product Development
• Analytics And Guest Insight Utilization
• Channel-Specific Product Strategies
• Global Assortment Architecture
• Limited-Edition Product Creation
• Risk Mitigation Strategies

Soft Skills

• Collaborative Leadership
• Influential Communication
• Decisive Decision-Making
• Creative Storytelling
• Passion For Fan Engagement

Industry Keywords

• Entertainment
• Media
• Themed Attractions
• Licensed Consumer Products
• Sustainability
• Responsible Sourcing
• Global Compliance
• Matrixed Organizations
• Franchise Alignment
• Guest Experience