Head of Modern Trade at LOreal

As the Head of Modern Trade, you will be the key driver in crafting the future of the beauty landscape in Kenya. Inspiring retailers with consumer fed insights that translate in recruitment for the category, driving value. You will be instrumental in driving the growth and strategy across the modern retail landscape.

You will lead a high-performing team to build strong partnerships with key retailers, ensuring we grow the category, achieve new heights with our brands by inspiring the consumer right where they are. 

Here’s what you’ll be working on:

• Strategic Channel Leadership: develop and execute the modern trade strategy, identifying new growth opportunities and ensuring alignment with the overall business objectives to expand our sales in a profitable way. 
• Commercial & Financial Acumen: full ownership of the channel's P&L, lead budgeting together with trade marketing team & Business Development Manager, sales forecasting and performance tracking. 
• Implement revenue growth strategies, optimizing pricing, promotions, and product mix to achieve ambitious profitability targets.
• Key Account & Relationship Management: point of contact with our key retail partners, building relationships. 
• Lead high-stakes negotiations and co-create powerful joint business plans that ensure brilliant in-store execution and mutual success.
• Team Leadership & Development: lead the sales team by setting clear objectives, providing consistent coaching, and fostering their professional growth. Driving a consumer first, sell-out mindset in everything they do. 

We Are Looking For

We are looking for a strategic leader with a proven ability to drive commercial success in a dynamic market and one who has a sharp analytical mind and thrives on turning data-driven insights into impactful business strategies.

Here’s what you’ll bring to the table:

• Ability to develop and execute long-term channel strategies that align with business objectives.
• Proven experience in leading complex negotiations and building successful joint business plans with major retailers.
• A track record of building and developing effective, high-performing teams.
• Proficiency in analyzing sales data to track performance, identify trends, and make informed decisions.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Marketing or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years in FMCG sales, with at least 4-5 years in a senior leadership role managing modern trade accounts.
• Experience in a senior commercial role within the FMCG is an added advantage.
• Proficiency in analyzing sales data is a critical skill for this role. 
• Ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative partnerships with major retail accounts to drive mutual growth.