Head of Regional Merchandising

About the company:

My client is a leading multinational sports and lifestyle retail business with a fast-growing footprint across Southeast Asia, operating across owned markets and franchise partnerships. Known for its strong brand portfolio and consumer-led approach, the business places a heavy emphasis on commercial performance, merchandise curation, and regional scale. They are in an active expansion phase, focused on building strong leadership succession, strengthening core teams, and developing future general management talent, while maintaining close collaboration across merchandising, operations, marketing, and franchise partners.

Overview of the role:

You will play a critical leadership role in driving the merchandising strategy across Southeast Asia during an exciting phase of expansion. This position is both strategic and hands-on, with a strong focus on building succession, strengthening the current team, and supporting long-term regional growth.

You will work closely with senior leadership, including providing guidance to franchise partners, while also taking on cross-functional projects to broaden business exposure and leadership scope.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and set the overall merchandising strategy for the region.
• Stabilise, develop, and strengthen the current merchandising and allocation teams to support growth and scalability.
• Provide strategic guidance and oversight to the franchise business, accounting for approximately 5–10% of overall responsibilities.
• Partner closely with regional and cross-functional teams (e.g. operations, marketing, finance) on broader business initiatives and special projects.
• Drive commercial performance through strong assortment planning, range architecture, pricing, and sell-through optimisation.
• Act as a trusted business partner to senior stakeholders, bringing strong commercial insight and data-driven decision-making.
• Travel within the region as needed.

Key requirements:

• Proven senior merchandising leadership experience within FMCG, multibrand, fashion, or lifestyle retail.
• Strong overall business acumen, with the ability to think beyond merchandising and contribute at a general management level.
• Experience leading and developing managers and building high-performing teams.
• Comfortable operating in a growing, evolving environment where priorities may shift with expansion.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution.
• Exposure to franchise or multi-market operations is an advantage.