Who We Are:
Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.
The Country Manager is responsible for overseeing all wholesale business operations within Italy, Croatia and Slovenia. This includes strategic planning for accelerated growth, managing financial performance, ensuring regulatory compliance and market expansion with strong collaborative support for our DTC retail and ecommerce channel.
The role demands a dynamic leader who can drive strategic growth, build a high performing and strong team, and represent the company’s brand and values. This role demands a visionary leader with a passion for sales, product and brand management alongside a sharp commercial mind and the ability to inspire teams and partners alike.
This role is based in Bolzano, Italy.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Develops both the short-term and long-range business plans and strategies to meet New Balance’s financial and strategic objectives.
- Own country-level sales and marketing results, including planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
- Identify risks and opportunities and, when appropriate, gap analysis and action planning and effectively communicate to relevant parties.
- Oversee day-to-day operations including sales, sales planning, customer service, marketing, finance and HR.
- Deliver exceptional service and support while balancing cost control and inventory management.
- Build effective top to top relationships with key customers in the market.
- Collaborate closely with local and regional finance team to develop and monitor financial budgets. Drive profitability and cost-efficiency across all departments.
- Ensures the agreed discount levels and prices are in operation in the country.
- Implement corporate and regional marketing programs that reinforce a consistent brand message.
- Manage the country marketing budget with discipline and creativity.
- Collaborate with global and regional merchandising and planning teams to tailor assortments to local market needs.
- Ensure compliance with local laws, regulations, and corporate policies.
- Represent New Balance in trade associations, public forums, and industry events as a brand ambassador.
- Recruit, train, and manage high-performing local teams to deliver optimum performance and high levels of engagement.
- Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration.
- Champion cross-border collaboration with NB associates worldwide.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:
- Experience: Proven senior management experience in a generalist role across sales, marketing, retail and operations at a similar level.
- Commercial Mindset: a process orientated approach to managing commercial performance with a deep understanding of key stakeholders in the sports and retail industry.
- Industry Knowledge: Strong market understanding of retail customers, consumers and competitors with a passion for sales and product.
- Leadership: Strong leadership presence with the ability to develop talent, build clarity and accountability at all levels.
- Education: Degree educated with an MBA preferred.
- Influencing: Results-driven mindset with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
- Analytical & Data-Driven: Proficiency in demonstrating, interpreting and presenting data and insights to inform strategy and optimize business performance.
- Values: Values driven leader who is resilient under pressure and adaptable to change.
- Travel: Willingness to travel up to 20%
- Language: Fluent in both Italian and English.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
New Balance is committed to equality of opportunity for all current and prospective associates regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and gender reassignment. We are an equal opportunity employer and support a culture of diversity and inclusion.
If you have not already done so, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.
Top Skills
What We Do
In 1906, New Balance began as a humble one-man operation founded on the belief that “we were born to move,” and has since grown into an international corporation, selling footwear and apparel in over 120 countries and employing over 8,000 associates worldwide. Our mission has always been to support the performance of athletes, and with an unparalleled focus on quality and craftsmanship, we’ve come to set the standard for comfort and fit in an industry all too often driven by hype.
We’re incredibly proud of our history and how far we’ve come, but companies don’t thrive for over a century by being content.
Whether it’s setting a new style trend, retooling our manufacturing process, or building a new state-of-the-art headquarters, we pursue innovation with a spirit of fearless independence. As the only privately held major footwear company in the world, we’re free to do things our way, pushing limits and testing boundaries as we continually reimagine what could be. After all, the status quo isn’t static.
But doing things our way wouldn’t mean much if we weren’t also doing them the right way. We invest in our associates as they invest in us, and as we move forward, we make a point of giving back, supporting communities around us through ambitious philanthropic efforts and involvement programs. We are a company that cares, and our culture is one of integrity and teamwork where together we become greater than the sum of our parts.
