CMO and marketing leadership search for luxury and consumer brands.
A luxury brand grows by deepening desire, not discounting it. Our retained CMO and senior marketing search is for the leaders who build demand, brand and client relationships across luxury and premium consumer businesses, including the CRM and client-intelligence roles now central to how houses sell.
The leadership brief
Marketing leadership with commercial accountability.
Beauty and consumer CMO searches should distinguish brand stewardship from the responsibility for demand, channels and customer economics. We clarify the relationship between the CEO, commercial team and marketing function, then assess how the candidate’s experience fits the stage and operating model of the business. Relevant adjacent experience can include brand, media and digital leadership where the brief supports it.
The hardest balance in luxury marketing
A marketing leader needs a clear remit for brand, customer relationships and commercial performance. Assessment should establish how the candidate has made decisions about channels, investment and the customer experience in a comparable business.
The remit may include communications, clienteling, digital engagement and customer insight. Define the authority over these areas and the relationship with commercial leadership before assuming they belong to one role.
Who appoints a luxury CMO
Marketing and brand leadership mandates reach us from across the sector:
- Luxury houses modernising brand, communications and client engagement
- Heritage brands seeking relevance with a new generation of clients
- Premium consumer businesses building brand equity as they scale
- Founder-led brands appointing their first senior brand leader
- Groups seeking a Chief Brand or Chief Client Officer across a portfolio
What Luxury Executive looks for
We assess brand and customer judgement alongside the candidate’s command of channels, budgets and commercial measures. The balance follows the company’s stage and the responsibilities of the appointment.
The research may include CMOs, brand presidents and client-experience leaders in luxury, beauty or other relevant consumer categories. We assess the contribution behind their titles and previous employers.
Defining this mandate
Separate brand stewardship, customer acquisition, retention and channel responsibilities. Define the budget, team and partnership with the commercial leader before assessing marketing experience.
How retained search worksFrequently asked
How should the CMO and commercial leader divide responsibility?
Agree ownership of brand, demand, pricing, distribution and revenue decisions. Shared objectives need clear authority rather than two executives being held accountable for the same decisions.
What evidence shows a candidate’s contribution?
Examine the initial position, decisions made, resources used and outcomes within the candidate’s control. Assess brand development alongside relevant customer and commercial measures.
Can a leader transfer from beauty or another consumer category?
Where the channels, customer behaviour and business model are relevant. Assessment should identify both what transfers and what the candidate would need to change.
Appointing a marketing or brand leader?
Speak with us in confidence about a CMO or senior brand mandate.