Senior Marketing Director

Location: France

Sector: Luxury Retail Destination

client overview

  • Private equity-backed global luxury retailer (~€800m revenue)

  • High-growth, DTC model with strong international footprint

  • Strategic focus on scaling brand and commercial performance in Europe

the mandate

  • Senior Marketing Director, reporting to CEO

  • Replacement of an underperforming incumbent

  • Full ownership of domestic UHNW and international customer strategy

  • Required to operate as a “mini-CMO”, driving modernisation and growth

Our Approach

  • Expanded mapping: Luxury + adjacent sectors (retail, digital, UHNW-focused businesses)

  • International lens: Targeted French nationals in key European hubs

  • Off-market access: Leveraged network and referrals to identify non-active talent

  • Advisory: Guided client to prioritise modern, commercially driven and transformational profiles beyond traditional luxury backgrounds

The Outcome

Placed a non-obvious, high-impact candidate:

  • FMCG background in complex global organisations

  • Experience across luxury fashion and experiences

  • Independent consultant at time of approach (immediately available)

  • Identified via referral, not active in market

  • Unanimous selection by 9 stakeholders

Strategic Value

Secured a leader capable of elevating marketing performance and driving measurable growth in a critical market, aligning with the business’s growth agenda.

the challenge

  • Limited talent pool: predominantly single-brand luxury profiles lacking scale/innovation exposure

  • Complex, matrixed stakeholder environment

  • Fully confidential search (incumbent in situ)

  • Need for French market expertise with an international perspective