about the company
Our client is an established global consumer business with a strong international presence. As part of its next phase of growth and transformation, the organisation is looking to strengthen its commercial and merchandising planning capabilities through a more integrated, data-driven approach to demand forecasting and inventory management.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced planning leader to play a pivotal role in reshaping how consumer demand drives commercial and merchandising decisions across the business.
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about the job
Reporting into the SVP of APAC, this position will lead the development and transformation of commercial, merchandising, demand and inventory planning capabilities across the region.
The successful candidate will be responsible for connecting consumer demand with revenue ambitions, margin performance and inventory investment, ensuring that commercial decisions are supported by robust financial planning, advanced forecasting and actionable insights.
Beyond managing day-to-day planning activities, this individual will play a critical role in designing future planning processes, introducing new technologies and building a more agile, predictive and commercially driven operating model.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead merchandise financial planning, translating commercial growth objectives into revenue, margin, inventory and investment plans across multiple product categories.
- Drive integrated demand planning, connecting consumer insights, merchandising strategies and market trends to develop accurate and actionable demand forecasts.
- Own inventory investment planning and Open-to-Buy (OTB) frameworks, ensuring optimal stock levels, healthy inventory turnover and improved working capital efficiency.
- Partner closely with commercial, merchandising, buying and finance leadership to challenge business assumptions, identify opportunities and support strategic decision-making.
- Drive scenario modelling and commercial forecasting to assess sales opportunities, profitability, inventory risks and changing consumer demand.
- Lead the adoption and optimisation of advanced planning platforms, particularly Anaplan or o9, to strengthen forecasting, merchandising and inventory planning capabilities.
- Drive the transformation of existing planning processes through data analytics, predictive modelling, AI and automation, improving decision-making and operational efficiency.
- Establish integrated planning processes that connect consumer demand, merchandise assortment, inventory investment and commercial performance.
- Lead, develop and build planning capabilities within the team, fostering a culture of innovation, analytical rigour and continuous improvement.
skills and experience required
- Degree in Business, Merchandising, Economics, Data Analytics or a related discipline.
- At least 10 years of relevant experience across commercial planning, merchandise financial planning, demand planning, inventory management or integrated business planning.
- Strong commercial acumen with an understanding of how demand forecasting, merchandising decisions, inventory investment, revenue and gross margins influence business performance.
- Experience within retail, FMCG, consumer goods, fashion, lifestyle or other inventory-intensive businesses with complex product portfolios.
- Proven exposure to merchandise financial planning, Open-to-Buy, inventory optimisation or integrated demand planning.
- Hands-on experience with advanced planning platforms such as Anaplan, o9 Solutions, Board, Blue Yonder, Oracle Retail, SAP IBP or equivalent integrated planning systems.
- Experience participating in or leading planning system implementations, process redesign or technology-driven business transformation would be highly advantageous.
- Strong analytical capabilities with experience in forecasting, scenario modelling, data-driven decision-making and advanced planning methodologies.
- Ability to influence senior commercial and merchandising stakeholders, challenge existing processes and drive cross-functional alignment.
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities, with an interest in building teams, developing talent and driving organisational change.
Please click on the 'apply' button to apply online. For more information, please reach out to Rumi Mohd. (EA: 94C3609 /R1550851)
