Gate One
Principal, Consumer & Retail - London
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Consumer & Retail Practice Overview
In our Consumer & Retail practice, we help leading consumer goods, retail, and omnichannel businesses navigate growth, transformation, and disruption. Our work spans customer and marketing transformation, digital and technology transformation, operating model design, AI-enabled change, and large-scale business transformation.
Whether supporting a grocery retailer, fashion retailer, consumer brand, or digital-first business, you will bring credible sector insight and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing modern Consumer & Retail organizations.
Role of a Principal
As a Principal, you will lead major client relationships and transformation engagements, while supporting the growth of existing accounts, developing new opportunities, and helping shape the future of our Consumer & Retail practice.
Responsibilities
Lead High-Value Client Delivery
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders and executive leadership teams.
- Lead complex transformation programs across consumer goods, retail, and omnichannel organizations.
- Shape solutions that address strategic, operational, customer, and organizational challenges.
- Provide senior leadership across engagements, ensuring delivery excellence and measurable client outcomes.
- Coach consulting teams to deliver outstanding client impact.
Grow Client Accounts and Drive Business Development
- Build and deepen executive relationships across existing and prospective clients.
- Identify, originate, and convert new consulting opportunities within the Consumer & Retail sector.
- Lead proposals, pitches, and commercial negotiations.
- Develop propositions, sector credentials, and thought leadership aligned with Consumer & Retail.
- Collaborate across Gate One and the wider Havas network to create and grow opportunities.
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Lead and Develop Teams
- Lead, coach, and inspire consulting teams across multiple engagements.
- Support the development and progression of Managers, Senior Consultants, and Consultants.
- Foster inclusive, high-performing environments where people can thrive.
- Act as a role model for Gate One's values, behaviors, and consulting standards.
Help Build Gate One
- Play a leading role in the growth and development of the Consumer & Retail practice.
- Shape our sector strategy, market proposition, and go-to-market approach.
- Support recruitment, capability development, and thought leadership activities.
- Help shape the culture, direction, and long-term success of Gate One.
About You
You must have approximately 10-15 years' experience gained within a recognized management consulting firm, including significant experience operating at Senior Manager, Associate Director, Director, or Principal level.
At this time, we are not able to consider candidates whose experience sits solely within industry roles.
We are particularly interested in individuals with a strong track record of delivering transformation programs and developing client relationships within the consumer goods, retail, or omnichannel sectors.
You Will Also Bring:
- A strong track record of developing senior client relationships and acting as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders.
- Significant experience leading business, digital, customer, commercial, or operational transformation programs.
- Demonstrable success in business development, account growth, and opportunity conversion.
- A deep understanding of the Consumer & Retail sector and the ability to navigate its different business models. You understand that the challenges facing a grocery retailer, fashion retailer, consumer goods organization, or omnichannel business are often fundamentally different, and can bring credible sector insight to client conversations.
- Experience across areas such as merchandising, buying, category management, supply chain, store operations, e-commerce, customer experience, marketing, commercial transformation, or digital enablement.
- Strong commercial acumen and a focus on delivering measurable client outcomes.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing consulting teams.
- Exceptional communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
- Curiosity, versatility, and a passion for solving complex business challenges.
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Why Gate One?
Gate One is a business and digital transformation consultancy dedicated to helping clients thrive. As part of Havas, one of the world's largest global communications groups, creativity is in our DNA and shapes how we think, work, and deliver meaningful change.
Our vision is for purpose-driven people to create lasting impact together. We combine creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and consulting rigor to help clients deliver transformation that sticks.
We are committed to providing an inclusive, transparent, and supportive environment where our people can do their best work, develop their careers, and make a genuine difference.
Gate One is committed to an inclusive hiring process. All applications will be given fair consideration regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, faith, or social background.
Candidates must hold the legal Right to Work in the UK and meet the level of experience outlined above to be considered for this role.
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