Chief Commercial Officer

Location: Dubai

Company: Retailer

Role Overview

Forsyth Barnes is recruiting on behalf of a prominent retailer with over 700 stores across 13 countries in the Middle East and Africa. Representing more than 40 international franchise concepts in fashion, food and beverage, home furnishings, multimedia, and beauty, the company is a market leader in the region. The Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) will lead and optimize all commercial functions, including sales, marketing, business development, and contractual negotiations. This role is pivotal in driving market positioning, championing customer-centricity, and delivering on strategic goals to maximize revenue growth and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the company’s commercial strategy to drive revenue growth and align with corporate objectives.
• Provide visionary leadership to commercial teams, ensuring their initiatives support business priorities.
• Champion market analyses, feasibility studies, and cost-benefit assessments to identify opportunities and risks.

Transformation & Change Management

• Lead and oversee all commercial and contractual aspects of major projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Manage the development of RFPs, tenders, and commercial agreements to optimize business outcomes.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with projects, developing solutions to address potential challenges effectively.

Customer-Centricity & Market Positioning

• Champion a customer-first approach across commercial operations, ensuring exceptional service delivery and client satisfaction.
• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with key clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• Represent the company in high-level negotiations, partnerships, and industry events.

Financial & Operational Oversight

• Develop and manage budget plans to ensure financial objectives are met.
• Optimize business performance through rigorous financial risk management and enhanced market positioning.
• Identify and select external consultants or advisors for key projects and monitor their performance.

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, train, motivate, and evaluate team members to build a high-performing department.
• Foster collaboration and ensure teams are aligned with business goals and objectives.

Behavioral Competencies

• Manages Complexity: Simplifies high-volume, intricate challenges into actionable solutions.
• Communicates Effectively: Tailors messages to diverse audiences, ensuring clarity and understanding.
• Resourcefulness: Deploys resources efficiently to meet organizational goals.
• Business Insight: Anticipates market trends and adapts strategies to drive competitive advantage.
• Builds Effective Teams: Creates strong, collaborative teams with diverse skills and perspectives.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, or a related field.
• Experience:
• General Experience: A minimum of 15 years in commercial leadership roles.
• Managerial Experience: At least 15 years in a senior management capacity.
• Acting as a Chief Commercial Officer in a previous role is a MUST
• Experience within the GCC region is a MUST
• Experience working within Retail is a MUST
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English; Arabic is a plus.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in MS Office.