HRsource
Retail Director – UK & Ireland (Luxury Fashion)
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HRsource is working with an international luxury fashion house on the appointment of a Retail Director, based in London and responsible for its retail business across the UK & Ireland.
This is a senior commercial leadership position with direct responsibility for the performance of the store network, its people, and the continued development of the brand's retail business in one of its most important international markets. The brief is relatively straightforward: the business wants an experienced luxury retail leader who understands stores from the ground up but is equally comfortable operating at senior management level.
You will know what is happening across the network, which stores are performing, where the opportunities sit, what clients are telling us, and where investment or change is required. At the same time, you will be expected to look beyond the current trading period and help shape the longer-term direction of the retail business.
The Position
The Retail Director will take overall responsibility for the commercial performance and leadership of the UK & Ireland retail network. You will work closely with Store Directors and senior retail management, giving them the autonomy to run their businesses while maintaining a clear view of performance across the network. A significant part of the role will be spent in stores. We are looking for someone who wants to understand the business first-hand, knows the management teams, and can recognize differences between locations rather than managing the entire network through reports. You will review sales, profitability, productivity, conversion, client development, and other key measures of performance, but the expectation is that you can interpret what sits behind those numbers and decide where action is required. Annual budgets, forecasts, store targets, and business planning will sit within your remit, alongside regular performance reviews and longer-term commercial planning.
Leading the Retail Business
The quality of store leadership will be one of your biggest priorities. You will lead and develop Store Directors and senior retail managers, setting clear expectations while creating an environment where strong managers are trusted to make decisions. You will need to identify where leadership capability can be strengthened, recognize high-potential talent, and ensure there is a credible succession pipeline for key positions across the network. Recruitment, retention, and development will therefore form an important part of the role, working closely with HR to make sure the business continues to attract and develop strong luxury retail talent. This is not about creating layers of management between the Retail Director and the stores. The role requires someone visible and accessible who understands the realities of the shop floor while maintaining the perspective expected of a senior director.
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Clients & Commercial Development
The UK luxury client is sophisticated, but the business also serves a significant international clientele, particularly within London. Understanding both will be important.
You will work with store leadership and CRM teams to strengthen client development across the network, with particular attention to VIC and high-value client relationships, retention, private appointments, events, and the development of individual client portfolios. Rather than treating clienteling as a separate initiative, you will be expected to make it part of how the retail organization operates. You will also maintain visibility with important clients and support Store Directors with key relationships and significant commercial opportunities when appropriate.
Stores, Product & Performance
You will work closely with Merchandising and Buying to ensure the retail organization has a strong voice in product decisions. Understanding what clients are buying, what they are asking for, and where individual stores are seeing opportunities will allow you to provide meaningful commercial feedback to regional and global teams. You will also partner with Visual Merchandising, Marketing, CRM, Finance, HR, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure stores receive the support required to perform. Where there are new openings, relocations, refurbishments, or other retail projects, the Retail Director will represent the commercial needs of the retail organization and remain closely involved through to opening. Operational standards, stock management, loss prevention, and the overall quality of store execution will ultimately sit within your area of responsibility.
Market & Business Development
Beyond managing the existing network, you will contribute to decisions around the future development of the business. This may include evaluating new locations, reviewing existing store performance, identifying opportunities for expansion, and providing a retail perspective on investment decisions. You will maintain strong relationships with landlords, department store partners, and other relevant external stakeholders, particularly across the London luxury retail market. A good understanding of the major luxury destinations, competitive landscape, and changing client behavior within the UK will therefore be important.
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Who We Are Looking For
We would like to speak with established senior retail leaders who have built their careers within international luxury fashion. You are likely to be operating currently as a Retail Director, Head of Retail, Regional Retail Director, or in a comparable multi-store leadership position. You should have significant experience leading a substantial retail business rather than simply managing an individual flagship. A strong track record of delivering commercial results is essential, but we are equally interested in how you achieved them. You should be able to demonstrate examples of developing Store Directors, improving underperforming businesses, building stronger client activity, and creating teams capable of sustaining performance. Experience of the UK luxury retail market, and particularly London, would be highly valuable. Candidates with relevant international experience combined with a strong understanding of the UK market will also be considered. You will need to be comfortable working within an international organization where decisions involve collaboration with regional and global stakeholders. The successful person will combine commercial judgment with strong people instincts. You should be able to move comfortably between reviewing a business plan with senior leadership, challenging a Store Director on performance, and spending time on a shop floor understanding what clients and teams are actually experiencing.
Experience
- Typically 10+ years of progressive luxury retail experience, including substantial senior multi-site leadership responsibility.
- A strong background within international luxury fashion is highly preferred.
- Proven responsibility for significant retail turnover, budgets, and commercial planning.
- Experience leading Store Directors and senior retail management teams.
- Strong understanding of luxury client development, CRM, and VIC business.
- Demonstrable experience developing talent and succession across a retail organization.
- Good knowledge of the UK luxury retail landscape and its key locations.
- Experience working with international or global headquarters and across multiple business functions.
- Exposure to new store openings, relocations, refurbishments, or network development would be advantageous.
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