Head of Brands

Seddiqi Holding is a family-owned and managed company with a unique, diversified portfolio of businesses and brands across numerous sectors. The business units include Ahmed Seddiqi the longest standing and largest unit within the group, Seddiqi Properties, Swiss Watch Services and Mizzen

We are looking for a Head of Brands to develop and achieve effectively all the defined brand strategies and maintain the identity of their portfolio of brands within the Ahmed Seddiqi brand portfolio. The job holder is responsible for overseeing their respective division, team, and activities in line with the AS&S Operating Model and policies. The Head of Brands is responsible for driving sustainable sales evolution and profitability while protecting brand identity, maintaining operational excellence, and delivering high customer service standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Propose brands that are differentiable and unique to AS&S's Luxury portfolio along with assessment & recommendation based on potential principles of the proposed brands.
• Discuss in collaboration with legal and agree in Principal on Brand's contractual terms and report to the Division Director.
• Consolidate brand positioning strategy, complimenting AS&S brand universe into strict documented guidelines, which shall form the basis of each brand's annual business plan.
• Establish effective negotiation strategies with the Principal to leverage positive outcomes and growth for AS&S, ensuring positive alignment with brand image, sales and profits.
• Review contracts annually, in coordination with the Division Director, to ensure suitability and adequacy to AS&S's brand strategy and financial goals, and review with the Legal team to flag risks and share insights with management accordingly.
• Prepare and support the development of your division's evolving Strategy, plans and image, in line with AS&S's strategy, brand budget.
• In collaboration with finance and following the quarterly rhythm of review ensure relevance of sales and purchase budgets.
• Utilize standardized Pricing Framework developed by Finance Department, to develop pricing strategies, in line with exchange rates, Principal's expectations, global approach, ensuring alignment with brand's image and consumer expectations.
• In coordination with the After Sales Department, SWS and POS, develop and communicate after sales strategy for your portfolio of Brand customers.
• Monitor and analyze Luxury Brand's performance by category sales, sell-out, gross margin and turnover and translate insights into key selling points or highlight opportunities for expansion and growth within the country and region, ensuring alignment with the strategy of your portfolio of brands.
• Ensure your portfolio of brands are performing according to sale targets and identify brands/products underperforming to ensure prompt corrective action to be taken.
• Liaise with Marketing to develop a full-fledged Brand Strategy aligned.
• Communicate developed Brand Strategy and brand events with relevant stakeholders.
• Understanding your brand portfolio in context of AS&S and collaborate with retail performance manager to ensure your brands meet the net contribution minima criteria.
• Analyze and forecast the potential of new products, making recommendations based on sales and profit analysis, ensuring alignment with brand image and strategy.
• Improve and identify new opportunities to augment the brand's reach to customers to increase brand image.
• In collaboration with appropriate boutique managers, retail performance managers, develop operating budgets and conduct sales forecasting where appropriate.
• Review data analytics reports and conduct regular meetings with the Retail Management to discuss changes in market dynamics and brand performance.
• In coordination with the appropriate departments conduct financial feasibility and identify the financial contribution for openings of new mono brands boutiques.
• In coordination with the Retail Department, VM and project team ensure ideas and strategies on store displays, store designs, and store opening, is aligned with brand strategy and current customer demand.
• Maintain a close relationship with Principals and Key Stakeholders to further enhance and develop the relationships and improve brand performance.
• On agreement with Division Director and finance negotiate buy backs in cases of overstocking and buy outs for discontinued brands or models.
• Review and approve brand purchasing activities based on brand strategy, consumer demand and Principal's assigned quantity (if any).
• Collaborate with Brand Manager to develop the Marketing Budget for the Luxury Brand taking into consideration Principal's requirements, guidelines, consumer expectations, and purchasing budget.
• Monitor and guide the development of Marketing Budget with Brand Manager and Marketing Team.
• Liaise with the retail performance team and the operations excellence team on a regular basis.
• Conduct Awareness Sessions to ensure regular communication takes place among the Brand Managers and relevant team members to discuss any changes in brand strategy.

In order to be successful in this role, you should have:

• 10+ years job related experience.
• Experience in retail / brand management of jewelry and watches.
• Experience in managing Luxury brands.
• Experience in inventory management and marketing principles.
• Strong leadership and people skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong Organizational and Planning Skills.
• Strong analytical skills and business acumen.

If you are ready for your next challenge, Apply Now!