Senior Director – Luxury Brand Strategy

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1. ROLE PURPOSE

The Senior Director – Luxury Brand Strategy & Retail Development will serve as the primary strategic interface between global luxury brands (e.g. Maison brands, European couture houses) and the India entity.

This leader will oversee end-to-end brand launch, store design, retail development, merchandising, supply planning, operations, and brand compliance, ensuring that India's rollout matches global benchmarks in quality, brand language, customer experience, and profitability.

This role is senior, autonomous, and entrepreneurial — responsible for shaping the India market strategy and building the full luxury retail organisation for the Group.

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1. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Brand Launch & Market Entry Strategy

• Lead the India-market launch & scale-up for select global luxury brands (e.g. premium couture & lifestyle brands).

• Formulate the 5-year India rollout strategy including locations, flagship formats, business model, cost structures, and ROI.

• Drive alignment between brand headquarters and Indian promoters on commercial terms, store design approvals, brand guidelines, and operational standards.

B. Store Design, Development & Rollout

• Oversee concept design, 3D layouts, store architecture, fixtures, and merchandising layouts in coordination with global brand design teams.

• Manage all pre-opening deliverables, including:

• BOQs, fit-out contractors, timelines, and budget approvals

• VM guidelines and brand aesthetic standards

• Technical store planning (MEP, façade, lighting, interior architecture)

• Ensure all stores meet international luxury standards and undergo timely global brand audits/approvals.

C. Merchandising, Buying & Inventory Planning

• Drive complete buying calendar, OTB planning, seasonal assortment strategy, and demand forecasting.

• Manage collection selection with global buying teams, ensuring brand DNA and Indian consumer insights align.

• Oversee merchandise allocation, replenishment cycles, pricing strategy, and sell-through optimisation.

• Ensure compliance with global merchandising guidelines and supply chain frameworks.

D. Retail Operations & Store Performance

• Build and lead the retail operations structure across all flagship and boutique stores (Pan-India).

• Define SOPs for:

• Customer experience (CX)

• Luxury service protocols

• CRM, after-sales, clienteling, VIP management

• Sales targets, KPIs & quarterly reviews

• Drive store profitability, P&L ownership, staff productivity, and operational excellence.

E. Cross-Functional Leadership & People Development

• Build from scratch the India Luxury Retail Leadership Team:

• Retail managers

• VM & merchandising leads

• Store design managers

• Supply chain & operations

• Training and CRM

• Create luxury retail training systems aligned with global standards.

• Lead cultural alignment between the brand's international identity and operational realities of the Indian market.

F. Relationship Management (HQ, Promoters, Stakeholders)

• Act as the single point of contact for:

• Global brand HQ

• Indian promoters (Yuvraj & leadership teams)

• Architects, mall groups, contractors, and luxury retail partners

• Present monthly progress dashboards, seasonal buying reports, and P&L performance reviews.

• Maintain strong relationships with mall developers, architects, global design consultants, and luxury retail ecosystem partners.

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1. EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Must-Have

• 12–20 years experience with top luxury brands such as:

LVMH | Kering | Richemont | Chanel | ELIE SAAB | Dior | Gucci | Burberry | Versace | Ferragamo | Zegna etc.

• Experience in end-to-end store rollout, buying & merchandising, and retail P&L management.

• Strong relationships with mall owners, luxury developers (DLF, Phoenix, Jio World), contractors, and suppliers.

• Proven experience handling international brand alignment, design approvals, VM, and brand audits.

Preferred

• Experience launching a new luxury brand in India or GCC.

• Ability to travel internationally for buying, brand meetings, and store approvals.

• Strong understanding of Indian HNI/UHNI behaviour, couture trends, bridal luxury, and gifting markets.

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1. SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Deep understanding of luxury retail and global brand ecosystems

• Exceptional stakeholder management & communication skills

• Strong eye for design, aesthetics, and VM excellence

• Analytical & P&L ownership mindset

• Leadership ability to build a 50–100 member retail organisation

• High integrity, discretion, and alignment with global luxury standards

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1. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS (Indicative)

(Optional block you can include if needed)

• Senior Leadership Compensation (Industry Benchmark)

• Annual performance bonus

• Opportunity to work directly with global luxury houses

• International travel for brand HQ meetings & buying sessions

• Long-term growth with a multi-brand luxury portfolio in India