COS is a brand for the modern wardrobe, built on exceptional quality, lasting design and a commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. As we continue to strengthen our global presence, we are seeking an experienced retail leader to join us in a role externally positioned as a Senior Retail Director / Vice President of Retail.
Internally, this role is titled Regional Head of Sales, reflecting our organisational structure within H&M Group. The scope, influence and market presence, however, align with a senior executive position overseeing a significant European retail portfolio.
This is a high-impact leadership role with responsibility for our flagship and key market stores across Central and South Europe. The role requires a considered, values-led leader who combines strategic clarity, strong commercial judgement and the ability to build and inspire high-performing teams.
Key responsibilities
Strategic and commercial leadership
- Define and deliver the strategic direction for the European retail business, balancing immediate results with long-term, sustainable growth.
- Maintain a clear, data-informed view of performance across all markets, identifying opportunities to drive productivity, optimise stock and strengthen overall profitability.
- Partner closely on the evolution of the store portfolio, including new openings, relocations and refurbishments, ensuring relevance and consistency across markets.
- Lead with insight, using key commercial metrics to inform decisions and drive focused, effective action.
Service and operational excellence
- Champion a service-led culture, elevating the in-store experience and positioning COS as a benchmark for thoughtful, premium retail.
- Drive operational excellence across markets, ensuring efficiency, consistency and adaptability within local frameworks.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with teams across Merchandising, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance and HR to deliver aligned, end-to-end plans.
- Work in partnership with merchandising and global operations to optimise stock flow, localise assortments and strengthen the omnichannel customer experience.
Leadership and organisational development
- Shape the structure and capabilities of the European retail organisation, ensuring the right talent and ways of working are in place to deliver on strategic ambitions.
- Lead, coach and develop senior retail leaders, building a strong and future-focused talent pipeline.
- Contribute as a core member of the European Leadership Team, ensuring retail insights inform broader business decisions.
- Champion COS values, fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture across all markets
Alignment to our company values is the most important characteristic we look for in all new joiners. Our values are the behaviours that we appreciate above and beyond anything else. We are open-minded and curious, we dare to be different, we believe in constant improvement and we empower and trust you to take ownership. Our values are part of who we are, what we stand for and how we act.
What you need to succeed
- Executive experience – Brings proven experience leading large-scale, multi-market retail environments, with full accountability for performance across flagship and key locations.
- Strategic perspective – Shapes clear, long-term direction, with a considered approach to navigating complexity and driving sustainable growth.
- Commercial insight – Applies strong analytical thinking to understand performance, identify opportunities and translate insight into focused, effective action.
- Leadership – Leads with clarity and purpose, building and developing high-performing, collaborative teams.
- Service focus – Champions a thoughtful, elevated customer experience, creating service-led retail environments.
- Financial expertise – Demonstrates a strong understanding of commercial and financial drivers, using data to inform decisions and outcomes.
- Collaboration – Works seamlessly across functions, building strong partnerships to achieve shared goals.
- Values alignment – Reflects COS values through an open mindset, a progressive approach and a commitment to continuous improvement and empowering others.
This is a full time permanent contract based at our Regional Office in London
Benefits
We offer all our employees attractive benefits with extensive development opportunities around the globe. All our employees receive a 25% staff discount usable on all our H&M Group brands in stores and online. In addition to our staff discount, all our employees are included in our H&M Incentive Program – HIP. You can read more about our H&M Incentive Program here.
In addition to this London based colleagues also receive
- 25 days holiday
- Discounts on everyday brands and leisure activities
- Retail Trust membership
- Pension scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Cycle to work scheme
Inclusion & Diversity
At COS we’re determined to create and maintain inclusive, diverse and equitable workplaces throughout our organisation. Our teams should consist of a variety of people who share and combine their knowledge, experience and ideas. Having a diverse workforce leads to a positive impact on how we address challenges, what we perceive as possible and how we choose to relate to our colleagues and customers all over the world, therefore all diversity dimensions are taken into consideration in our recruitment process.
Brand Description
COS
COS offers a wardrobe of ready-to-wear and accessories rooted in exceptional quality and lasting design. The brand has an elevated aesthetic that embodies luxury with an emphasis on craftsmanship, innovation and compelling fashion movements.
In this role you will have some flexibility to work remotely however due to the high level of cross department collaborations approx. 4 days per week office presence is required to foster strong collaborations and team work.
Ready to apply? Click on the I’M INTERESTED link where you can upload your CV securely. Once we have received your application, we will keep you updated regularly about the status of your application so please look out for our email.
Please note this position is offered on a local contract, therefore you should have the legal right to work in the UK before applying. Other candidates are welcome to register their interest and we will keep you in mind for future opportunities.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Skills Required
- Proven executive experience leading large-scale, multi-market retail environments with full accountability for flagship and key store performance.
- Ability to define and deliver long-term regional retail strategy and navigate complex multi-market operations.
- Strong commercial and analytical insight to monitor performance, identify opportunities and drive profitability.
- Demonstrated leadership experience building, coaching and developing senior retail teams and talent pipelines.
- Service-led mindset with experience elevating in-store customer experience.
- Financial expertise and strong understanding of commercial drivers to inform data-driven decisions.
- Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance and HR.
- Values alignment with COS: open-mindedness, curiosity, willingness to improve, and empowering others.
- Based at the Regional Office in London with approx. 4 days per week office presence.
- Legal right to work in the UK (local contract) before applying.
H&M Group Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about H&M Group and has not been reviewed or approved by H&M Group.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, pharmacy and vision options with low employee costs and free dental are available, alongside telehealth and inclusive offerings such as transgender, bariatric and fertility coverage. These features are highlighted as solid for U.S. retail roles, with some availability for part‑time positions depending on eligibility.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Vacation, flexible wellness days, company‑paid holidays and a paid birthday off are offered, with some paid time off available to part‑time staff. The time‑off structure is presented as generous within the retail context.
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Parental & Family Support — Eight weeks of paid parental pay for mothers and fathers is provided, complemented by adoption assistance and healthy pregnancy/babies programs. These family supports add depth to the core medical coverage in the U.S. package.
H&M Group Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1947, H&M Group is a global design company with ~4,702 stores in 76 markets and 56 online markets. At H&M Group, we believe in making great design available to everyone. It’s essential in everything we do. Our family of brands and business ventures offer customers around the world a wealth of fashion, beauty, accessories and homeware, as well as modern menus with fresh and local produce at some of the brands’ in-store eateries. But design is so much more than just products; it’s about clever design processes, efficient product flows, creating experiences that enrich, and smart solutions that benefit all our customers. Sustainability is always at the core of our business. Not only because we like to do what’s right — but it’s also beneficial for our business. We will continue to push for change and lead the way towards a more inclusive and sustainable fashion future. Do you want to join us? We will trust you with great responsibility right from the start, reward a passionate mindset and encourage an entrepreneurial spirit. When you start a career with H&M Group, there’s no limit to where it can take you. H&M Group's Moderation Policy: Welcome to H&M Group’s official LinkedIn page. Ask questions, exchange ideas and meet members and employees from all over the world. This page is moderated daily and we always do our best to answer each one of you in a timely manner. Please remember to keep a friendly tone and in line with LinkedIn’s legal terms at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/user-agreement Comments and posts that contain foul language, are off-topic or unnecessarily rude will be deleted. We also encourage you to report any inappropriate content. We use an external tool to handle the comments on our page, so please note that your comments can be stored. For questions, please contact our team at [email protected].
