At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and scale a pioneering retail and consumer platform in music and experiential hospitality.
- Company: Join a leading global entertainment, hospitality, and lifestyle group.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, relocation support, and opportunities for international experience.
- Other info: Dynamic role with global impact and career growth potential.
- Why this job: Shape the future of retail by merging culture with consumer experiences.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in leadership roles with P&L accountability in lifestyle or experiential retail.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
V&C Associates are partnering exclusively with a leading global entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle group to appoint a Managing Director, Retail & Consumer Experiences. This is a senior strategic appointment to lead, structure and scale a pioneering retail and consumer platform at the intersection of music, culture and experiential hospitality.
Location requirement will require 1 year secondment in London with a full relocation required to the USA. This division is not traditional merchandise retail. It is an activation led, programmable platform that monetises culture, extends the brand into fans’ daily lives, and creates physical and digital touchpoints that deepen relationships with a global audience.
The Managing Director will be responsible for designing, building and running this division as a standalone business within the wider group. You will hold end to end ownership of the Retail & Consumer Experiences division – strategy, P&L accountability, organisational design, operations, expansion and commercial partnerships – with direct exposure to and interaction with the Group President, senior leadership and the board.
Key responsibilities include:
- Building the division: formalising the commercial architecture, establishing the operating model, and standing up a high calibre executive team capable of scaling from three flagship stores to a global network.
- Full P&L ownership: designing and owning a multi stream revenue model where events and activations sit at the core, with product sales, sponsorship, partnerships and experiential premium pricing built on top.
- Cultural programming and fan experience: overseeing the activation calendar across all locations, ensuring stores are conceived as cultural stages that host events, artist appearances, listening experiences and fan community moments.
- Performance management: building the financial planning, forecasting and analytics infrastructure to measure success across seven core dimensions, including financial performance, events and activations, superfan engagement, brand reach, customer satisfaction, data capture, and collaborations and partnerships.
- Expansion strategy: leading market selection, site strategy and real estate negotiations, and developing business cases for new locations, including innovative formats such as pop ups, festival retail and venue integrated commerce.
Key characteristics:
- A minimum of 15 years’ progressive leadership experience in lifestyle, experiential or entertainment adjacent retail, including at least 5 years at MD, VP or GM level with full P&L accountability and multi market exposure.
- A proven track record of taking an early stage retail or lifestyle business and building it into a structured, multi market division, including team build out, systems implementation and commercial model development.
- Deep fluency in experiential retail and fan centric brand building, with experience integrating physical and digital experiences into a cohesive platform rather than parallel channels.
- Demonstrable experience designing and scaling activation programming, cultural events and experiential formats that deliver measurable fan engagement and commercial returns.
- International expansion experience across multiple geographies, with a disciplined, data led approach to market selection and capital allocation.
- A general management mindset: comfortable owning strategy, operations, finance, people and partnerships concurrently, and operating with pace within a matrixed global organisation.
Managing Director - Consumer Experience in London employer: V&C
V&C Associates is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at the forefront of the entertainment and hospitality industry. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, team members are encouraged to innovate and lead within a culture that values creativity and collaboration. The unique opportunity to work in both London and the USA provides a rich cultural experience, making it an attractive choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Managing Director - Consumer Experience in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to meet potential employers, make sure to showcase your skills and experiences that align with the role. We recommend preparing a few key examples of your past successes that demonstrate your ability to lead and innovate in consumer experiences.
✨Be Ready for the Interview
Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but preparation is key! Research the company, understand their culture, and think about how your vision aligns with theirs. We suggest practising common interview questions and having a few thoughtful questions ready to ask them too.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our platform. Let’s get you that Managing Director role!
We think you need these skills to ace Managing Director - Consumer Experience in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Managing Director - Consumer Experience. Highlight your experience in lifestyle and experiential retail, and don’t forget to showcase your P&L accountability and leadership skills. We want to see how you’ve built teams and scaled businesses!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your past successes in building consumer experiences and how you’ve integrated physical and digital platforms. Let your passion for music and culture come through!
Showcase Your Strategic Mindset:In your application, demonstrate your strategic thinking and general management mindset. We’re looking for someone who can juggle strategy, operations, and finance all at once. Share examples of how you’ve successfully led market expansions or developed innovative business models in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at V&C
✨Know Your Audience
Before the interview, research the company’s culture and values. Understand how they integrate music, culture, and hospitality into their consumer experiences. This will help you tailor your responses to show that you’re not just a fit for the role, but also for the company ethos.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your leadership in experiential retail and P&L management. Highlight instances where you've successfully built teams or scaled businesses, as this aligns directly with the responsibilities of the Managing Director position.
✨Engage with Their Vision
Be ready to discuss innovative ideas for cultural programming and fan engagement. Think about how you can create memorable experiences that resonate with audiences. Presenting fresh concepts will show your enthusiasm and strategic thinking for the role.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the industry and the company's goals. Inquire about their expansion strategy or how they measure success across different dimensions. This demonstrates your genuine interest and strategic mindset.
