City of London
V&C Associates have been retained on an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Head of Retail to join one of the world’s biggest music companies and a leader in music-based entertainment, a multinational music corporation that operates record labels, a music publishing arm, merchandising, and audiovisual content businesses in over 60 countries and whom are looking to drive their immersive in store presence across the UK/EMEA. This is a high-profile position for a commercially astute, brand-led retail leader who can build and scale a premium, music-led retail experience across multiple locations. The Head of Retail will own the end-to-end retail strategy and execution for retail stores, responsible for driving commercial performance while safeguarding a distinctive, boutique brand experience rooted in music, culture, and storytelling. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on operational excellence, ensuring that every store reflects the creative and cultural DNA of the brand and operates to world-class standards. Core responsibilities • Retail strategy and performance, • Define, refine, and execute a clear retail strategy that aligns with overall brand positioning, commercial goals, and long-term growth ambitions., • Set and manage sales, margin, and profitability targets, ensuring consistent delivery of KPIs across all retail locations., • Own annual budgeting, forecasting, and performance review cycles, providing regular insight, analysis, and action plans to senior leadership., • Lead day-to-day retail operations, ensuring consistent standards of service, presentation, and efficiency across all stores., • Design, implement, and continually improve best-in-class retail processes, SOPs, and operational playbooks to support scalable growth., • Ensure full compliance with health and safety regulations, legal requirements, and internal company policies, embedding a culture of operational discipline., • Champion a premium, boutique customer journey that brings a music-led culture to life in-store, from first interaction through to post-purchase., • Oversee visual merchandising and in-store presentation, ensuring execution is aligned to brand guidelines, seasonal concepts, and campaign narratives., • Partner closely with marketing and creative teams to deliver immersive in-store activations, product launches, and events that deepen customer engagement and drive traffic., • Build, lead, and inspire high-performing retail teams, setting clear expectations and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence., • Recruit, onboard, and develop store managers and wider retail teams, implementing training frameworks that elevate product knowledge, service standards, and leadership capability., • Create a strong service culture focused on continuous improvement, coaching, and recognition, ensuring teams are motivated and empowered to perform., • Identify and evaluate opportunities for new permanent stores, pop-ups, and international locations, using data and insight to inform decisions., • Lead the planning and execution of store openings, refits, and format evolutions, ensuring operational readiness and smooth deployment. Skills and experience • Proven success in a senior retail leadership role (Head of Retail, Retail Director, or equivalent) within a boutique, premium, lifestyle, or experiential brand environment., • Strong commercial acumen with a demonstrable track record of driving sales growth, profitability, and KPI improvement across multiple sites., • Deep expertise in store operations, visual merchandising, and delivering elevated customer experiences., • Inspirational people leader with experience building, scaling, and developing high-performing retail teams through periods of growth and change., • Experience in omnichannel or digitally integrated retail environments, with an understanding of how physical and digital channels work together., • Genuine passion for music, culture, and brand storytelling, with the ability to translate that passion into compelling in-store experiences., • Strategic, future-focused thinker who is equally comfortable being hands-on in store environments., • Entrepreneurial, agile mindset with strong problem-solving skills and a high level of ownership., • Excellent communicator and influencer, able to engage credibly with senior stakeholders, creative partners, and frontline teams., • Creative and brand-driven, with meticulous attention to detail and a relentless focus on the customer.