Head of Commercial Finance Hire for Global Retailer

Client Overview – Global Retailer

Our client, a rapidly expanding global retailer renowned as one of the healthiest and fastest-growing food brands in its category, sought to bolster its leadership team. With ambitious plans for international market penetration and an increased focus on profitability, they required a Head of Commercial Finance to partner closely with operations, marketing and supply chain.

The Challenge – Driving growth with commercial clarity

The brief called for a senior finance leader who could:

• Lead commercial finance and provide clear decision support to the board
• Deliver insightful analysis to improve pricing, margin and store performance
• Partner with non-finance teams to align financial goals with operational reality
• Implement robust forecasting and budgeting processes across global operations
• Build a finance function that could scale with rapid growth

The challenge was to find a candidate with multi-site retail experience, a data-driven mindset and the ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.

Refined candidate profile

• Senior finance leader (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with multi-site retail or FMCG experience
• Track record of delivering commercial insights that drive revenue and margin growth
• Strong leadership skills to influence across international markets
• Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and KPI reporting
• Skilled in stakeholder management at board and operational levels

Our Approach – Targeted international search

Leveraging our global retail network, we conducted a dual-track approach:

1. Tapping into our network of proven retail finance leaders
2. Proactively headhunting in competitor and adjacent markets

The shortlist was narrowed to candidates with a demonstrated impact on P&L performance and the agility to operate in fast-growth environments.

Outcome – A strategic appointment

Within 4 weeks, Talentedge successfully placed a Head of Commercial Finance with:

• Proven track record in international retail growth
• Hands-on experience in improving store-level profitability
• Expertise in building commercial finance functions from the ground up

The appointment strengthened the company’s leadership bench, improved decision-making speed, and laid the financial foundations for their next growth phase.

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