A major European fashion retailer was preparing for a new phase of growth, supported by a significant multi-year investment programme. The appointment of a Managing Director therefore carried more than operational importance. The business needed a leader able to turn strategic ambition into execution, lead experienced teams through change and build confidence across a complex stakeholder environment.

Rather than defaulting to deep fashion retail experience, Amrop worked with the CEO and HR leadership team to define the capabilities the organisation would need next. Drawing on our global Consumer & Retail Practice, we widened the search across sectors and assessed leaders on transformation experience, commercial judgement, scale and the ability to mobilise organisations through change.

The result was the appointment of a Managing Director from outside fashion retail, bringing proven change leadership, fresh perspective and experience from a large-scale, fast-moving environment.