VP, Product, Retail
9 hours ago
Leavesden
• Shape and deliver product strategy across Buying, Merchandising, Design and Product Compliance for WBD Global Experiences, • Lead the end-to-end retail product ecosystem across studio tours, flagship stores, pop-ups, e-commerce and Location Based Entertainment, • Translate Warner Bros. Discovery franchises and IP into commercially successful, brand-authentic consumer products, • Lead buying, merchandising and assortment strategy across standalone retail, e-commerce and exit retail, • Craft channel-specific product strategies based on guest mindsets, dwell times, price sensitivity and conversion dynamics, • Define frameworks for exclusive, limited-edition and venue-specific product creation, • Partner with Design to commission and deliver custom-built product ranges, • Establish global assortment architectures and geo-specific ranges, • Lead merchandise planning, demand forecasting, open-to-buy and SKU productivity, • Drive revenue, margin, sell-through and inventory efficiency using analytics and guest insight, • Oversee global design and product development teams, • Balance creative excellence with speed-to-market, cost discipline, quality and scalability, • Define policies and processes for global product compliance, safety, testing and ethical sourcing, • Partner with Legal, EHS, Supply Chain and third-party testing bodies to mitigate risk and ensure market readiness, • Build, inspire and lead high-performing teams across Buying, Merchandising, Design and Compliance, including Director- and Senior Director-level direct reports, • Partner with Franchise, Licensing, Marketing, Retail Operations and external licensees, • Collaborate across the Retail leadership team, • Deliver sustained retail revenue, margin and inventory efficiency growth, • Achieve high guest satisfaction, conversion and product attachment rates, • Maintain strong global compliance outcomes with minimal product risk, • Ensure creative excellence and franchise alignment across product ranges, • Build a scalable, resilient global product organization with strong succession planning, • Extensive, senior leadership experience in global retail product, buying, or merchandising, including major High Street, multi-sited operations, • Proven executive oversight of Buying, Merchandising, Design and Product Compliance at scale, • Strong commercial acumen with a track record of driving profitable, IP-led retail businesses, • Experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams across North America, EMEA and APAC, • Deep understanding of global product safety, testing, regulatory standards and quality assurance, • Experience within entertainment, media, themed attractions, or licensed consumer products (strongly preferred), • Familiarity with owned retail, licensed, JV and third-party operating models (strongly preferred), • Experience aligning product strategies to content calendars, franchise launches and major brand moments (strongly preferred), • Demonstrated leadership in sustainability and responsible sourcing (strongly preferred), • Strategic, commercially driven and decisive, • Deep respect for creative storytelling, brand integrity and guest experience, • Comfortable operating in complex, matrixed global organizations, • Collaborative, influential and confident at executive and board level, • Passionate about fan engagement and immersive branded experiences Demonstrates extensive leadership in global retail product strategy, buying, and merchandising, with a strong focus on driving revenue and ensuring product compliance. Capable of leading multidisciplinary teams while maintaining brand integrity and guest experience across diverse markets. • Global Retail Product Strategy, • Buying And Merchandising Leadership, • Product Compliance And Safety Standards, • Team Leadership And Development, • Commercial Acumen In IP-Led Retail, • Merchandise Planning, • Demand Forecasting, • SKU Productivity, • Revenue And Margin Optimization, • Product Development, • Analytics And Guest Insight Utilization, • Channel-Specific Product Strategies, • Global Assortment Architecture, • Limited-Edition Product Creation, • Risk Mitigation Strategies, • Collaborative Leadership, • Influential Communication, • Decisive Decision-Making, • Creative Storytelling, • Passion For Fan Engagement, • Entertainment, • Media, • Themed Attractions, • Licensed Consumer Products, • Sustainability, • Responsible Sourcing, • Global Compliance, • Matrixed Organizations, • Franchise Alignment, • Guest Experience #J-18808-Ljbffr