At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a digital retail business towards growth and strategic exit.
- Company: Join a leading digital retail firm ready for expansion and transformation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, remote work flexibility, and additional perks.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of scaling a business with significant impact and opportunity.
- Qualifications: Must have extensive CEO experience in digital marketplaces and proven success in growth.
- Other info: This role involves occasional on-site meetings to drive collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
UK - mainly remote plus occasional on-site meetings
£Competitive + benefits
Leading digital retail business with solid foundations and great opportunity for continued growth is now ready for scale and strategic exit and needs an experienced CEO to ensure a smooth transition and positive impact on the company.
The Role:
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who’s scaled digital retail businesses before and knows what it takes to get a company exit-ready. You’ll be setting the pace—driving commercial strategy, boosting performance, and preparing the business for acquisition.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute a clear growth and exit plan aligned with the board’s vision
- Optimise the digital retail operation—ecommerce, supply chain, marketing, and customer experience
- Build a strong senior leadership team and embed scalable systems and processes
- Lead commercial negotiations, investment discussions, and acquisition talks
- Represent the company with potential buyers, investors, and strategic partners
- Ensure the business is well-positioned operationally, financially, and culturally for sale
What We’re Looking For:
- Very experienced CEO in digital marketplace sector – such as travel, hospitality, retail
- Proven success in taking a digital business from entrepreneurial management to the next growth stage, achieving a strong exit valuation.
- Strong grasp of ecommerce metrics, digital marketing, CX, and online buying behaviour
- Commercially sharp
- Confident communicator and strong operator under pressure
- Clear understanding of how AI will transform the online B2B and B2C business models
- Understanding platform economics, network effects, liquidity, and balancing supply and demand.
- Experience with both sides of the marketplace (buyers and sellers, service providers and consumers).
Chief Executive Officer employer: som3 Recruitment
Contact Detail:
som3 Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Executive Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network with industry professionals who have experience in digital retail and marketplace sectors. Attend relevant conferences or webinars to connect with potential mentors or peers who can provide insights into the role and company.
✨Tip Number 2
Research the latest trends in ecommerce and digital marketing, especially those related to AI and customer experience. Being well-versed in these areas will help you demonstrate your expertise during discussions with the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully scaled a digital business in the past. Highlight your strategic thinking and ability to lead teams through transitions, as this will be crucial for the CEO role.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with the company's current operations and any recent news about their growth or challenges. This knowledge will allow you to tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in their success.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Executive Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in scaling digital retail businesses. Focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive growth and prepare a company for acquisition.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that clearly outlines your vision for the role of CEO. Discuss how your past experiences align with the company's goals and how you plan to optimise their operations and lead them towards a successful exit.
Showcase Relevant Metrics: In your application, include key metrics from your previous roles that showcase your understanding of ecommerce performance, digital marketing, and customer experience. This will demonstrate your commercial acumen and ability to drive results.
Prepare for Interviews: Anticipate questions about your leadership style and strategies for managing transitions. Be ready to discuss how you would approach negotiations and represent the company to potential buyers and investors.
How to prepare for a job interview at som3 Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Experience
As a candidate for CEO, it's crucial to highlight your previous successes in scaling digital retail businesses. Prepare specific examples of how you've driven growth and achieved successful exits, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead the company through its next phase.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Before the interview, take time to research the company's current position and future goals. Align your growth and exit strategies with their vision, showing that you can not only fit into their culture but also enhance it.
✨Prepare for Commercial Discussions
Given the role's focus on negotiations and investment discussions, be ready to discuss your approach to commercial strategy. Think about how you would handle potential acquisition talks and what metrics you would use to evaluate success.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a CEO, leading a strong senior leadership team is essential. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and how you build effective teams. Share examples of how you've embedded scalable systems and processes in previous roles.