Area Manager, Central Europe

KEY PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Area Manager will play a critical role in driving our growth strategy across Central Europe, a region which covers Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Nordics and Eastern Europe. The primary focus will be on market expansion through new wholesale door openings. The successful candidate will lead the development of new wholesale partnerships, ensuring our brand is represented effectively in key locations, while supporting existing partners to maximise commercial performance.

The role combines strategic market development, relationship management, and operational oversight to achieve sales targets, expand brand presence, and ensure partners operate to brand standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Business Development:
  Drive growth across the region by identifying new commercial opportunities and optimise existing partnerships.
• Selective Distribution:
  Open new doors in line with the brand's selective distribution criteria to ensure qualitative and sustainable market expansion.
• Contract Management:
  Follow up on the implementation and compliance of retail and distribution contracts.
• Market Strategy:
  Develop and execute tailored go-to-market strategies for each country, coordinated with HQ to ensure alignment with the brand's global vision.
• Distribution Network:
  Oversee and expand the network of authorised retailers and distributors; ensure optimal stock and assortment planning.
• Visual Merchandising Management:
  Supervise and implement VM guidelines to ensure brand consistency and elevated in-store presentation across all POS.
• Marketing Cooperation:
  Manage local marketing activities and co-op budgets in alignment with HQ ensuring optimal ROI and brand visibility.
• Training & Team Development:
  Train and support retail staff, local brand ambassadors, and sales teams to ensure product knowledge and brand excellence.
• After-Sales Support:
  Coordinate and monitor after-sales service quality in collaboration with HQ and local partners to ensure customer satisfaction. Resolve escalated partner issues and provide operational or strategic support as required.
• Brand Representation:
  Ensure brand consistency and excellence across all touchpoints, including retail visibility, merchandising, and customer experience. Act as the regional ambassador for the brand, representing the company at partner meetings, industry events, and strategic discussions.
• Relationship Management:
  Build strong relationships with key partners, retail groups, and local agents.
• Reporting:
  Provide regular market feedback, competitive analysis; monitor and report on KPIs, setting clear growth objectives for partners and the region.
• Events & Activations:
  Support local events, client activations, and in-store marketing initiatives.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Proven experience in luxury retail or wholesale market expansion.
• Strong business development experience, with a track record of opening and growing new accounts or markets.
• Strong network of retail and distribution partners in the region.
• Excellent strategic thinking and analytical skills.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to influence and drive growth.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, autonomy, and ability to work effectively in a remote environment.
• Fluent in German and English (additional Central European languages a plus)
• Willingness to travel frequently within the region (up to 50-60%).

Desirable

• Understanding of luxury retail dynamics, visual merchandising, and consumer behavior in the target markets
• Experience managing multi-country or regional portfolios
• Experience managing co-op marketing budgets, contract follow-up, and after-sales operations is a plus.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Monday – Friday 9-5.30
• Homeworking with extensive travel required
• Working autonomously in location but as part of the wider Commercial team
• Probation process 4 months
• Notice period –2 months

INTERVIEW PROCESS

Stage 1

Telephone or video introduction with Hiring Manager to discuss application, interest in role, and suitability for the role

Stage 2

Interview with the hiring manager and HR on-site at HQ.

Stage 3

Presentation and final interview with hiring manager and senior manager onsite.

We are dedicated to creating an open and inclusive working environment, and this starts with our recruitment practices. We try to ensure that everybody who is interested in joining our team has equal opportunity and ability to start that journey with us. We intend to have flexible and accessible hiring practices and will make every attempt to adapt to your needs throughout. We welcome any requests for adjustments in our processes.