The insatiable appetite for innovation in online sales is generating a stack of opportunities for talented interim consultants in consumer retail.
With online retail market leaders and digital disruptors threatening to squeeze out many established brands who have been too slow to adopt new technologies, demand for interim managers who can lead business transformation programmes has never been higher.
Meanwhile the impending IR35 tax changes are leading many interims working in financial services to start looking elsewhere for work as high street banks end off-payroll contracts.
The combination of huge demand for business transformation expertise in consumer retail and this new influx of consultants well versed in leading B2C digital transformation projects, has created a buoyant interim market.
In response, HW Interim has hired an experienced consumer retail headhunter to join its talented team of consultants and researchers.
Jake Slater has been supporting HW’s global consumer practice for the past year as Principal Researcher, working on international assignments sourcing candidates for permanent executive positions for global leaders in consumer products and services.
These have been typically business transformation roles in specialisms including digital, supply chain, analytics and marketing – all concerned with finding the elusive formula for getting closer to consumers.
Prior to joining HW Global in 2018, Jake (pictured) ran his own retail recruitment business Best Recruit UK which he had set up in his mid-20s.
Jake, who hails from Clitheroe in Lancashire, said: “For the past year working in the global consumer practice I have been sourcing candidates for international assignments. My focus now is identifying UK-based interim executives for our consumer clients.
“Many of these will be business transformation roles so could fall outside of IR35 given the nature of these contracts with key deliverables, day-to-day working practices and the need for the interim being due to a lack of suitable experience in-house.
“I would urge executive interim consultants looking for new roles in the consumer sector, including CPG and durables, retail, apparel and luxury goods, to get in touch.”
HW Global, which has a £20m turnover and employs 50 staff based in London, Leeds and Manchester, currently operates on an exclusive and retained basis in the £120K+ search market, also placing interims on daily rates from £700 to £2,000. It has enjoyed an excellent year, with revenues growing by 30 per cent during 2019.
For an informal discussion with Jake Slater, Interim Consultant – Global Consumer Markets, clients and candidates can contact him at jakes@hwglobalpartner.com or +44 (0) 7384 832270.
