Vice President Marketing

Opportunity Overview

This is a confidential executive search for a Vice President of Marketing within a leading international retail organization. The role offers the chance to help steer the next phase of growth for a highly regarded retail business in the region.

This is not a conventional marketing post. It is a broad enterprise leadership position focused on setting the long-term direction for brand, customer, and market strategy, while keeping those priorities tightly connected to commercial goals and wider business plans.

The role sits within a complex retail environment spanning multiple brands and categories. Working alongside the CEO and the senior leadership team, the successful leader will help strengthen organizational capability, improve customer relevance, and create stronger alignment across the business.

The position calls for a seasoned retail executive with strong commercial judgement, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence stakeholders in a sophisticated matrix structure.

Role Details

Location: Onsite, UAE

Reporting to: Executive Team

Industry: Retail

Engagement type: Confidential executive search

Strategic Marketing and Portfolio Leadership

• Own and direct the long-range brand, customer, and marketing strategy across a varied multi-brand retail portfolio, ensuring it supports the company’s strategic and commercial priorities.
• Build stronger brand value by increasing customer relevance while protecting the individual identity and market position of each brand.
• Create a portfolio-level approach to customer engagement that drives enduring preference, loyalty, and commercial return.
• Spot and act on opportunities to improve brand performance, deepen customer relationships, and support sustainable growth.
• Make sure marketing plans are closely connected to customer, product, and commercial priorities through close collaboration with Commercial, Merchandising, and Retail leaders.

Stakeholder Engagement and Governance

• Work with the Executive Leadership Team to define strategic priorities and provide specialist guidance on brand, customer, and marketing performance.
• Bring Brand Managing Directors and senior leaders across Commercial, Merchandising, and Retail together to support enterprise-wide coordination in a matrixed organization.
• Create strong governance structures for marketing strategy, brand stewardship, investment prioritization, and performance tracking across the portfolio.
• Manage key agencies and external partners to ensure high-quality delivery, strong brand consistency, and effective commercial results.

Experience and Qualifications

• At least 12 years of progressive leadership experience, including substantial time at Director, Vice President, or comparable executive level.
• Background in internationally recognized fashion, lifestyle, luxury, or multi-category retail, with clear success in growing brand equity and commercial performance.
• Experience leading marketing in highly competitive Western European retail markets such as the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Benelux, or the Nordics is highly valued.
• International leadership exposure is required. Prior GCC experience is helpful but not mandatory. The ability to adapt quickly and succeed in a fast-moving, high-growth regional market is essential.
• Strong track record of managing multi-brand or multi-category portfolio marketing at a senior level.
• Experience reporting to and influencing at CEO and Board level.
• Proven ownership of significant marketing budgets, with accountability for ROI and commercial results.
• A bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Commerce, or a related field is preferred. An MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

Critical Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking and brand leadership
• Commercial acumen and P&L ownership
• Multi-brand portfolio management
• Customer-focused leadership
• Executive presence and stakeholder influence
• Team building and talent development
• Comfort leading through ambiguity and complexity
• Cross-cultural leadership and adaptability

Why This Role Matters

This is a standout opportunity to help define the future direction of a major international retail business while working closely with the executive leadership team.

The appointee will play a central role in improving customer relevance, building internal capability, guiding a high-performing team, and shaping the long-term success of an established brand portfolio.

Additional Information

Because this search is expected to attract strong interest, only applicants whose experience closely matches the stated criteria will be considered further. All applications will be handled in strict confidence.