Global Head of Sales

GLOBAL HEAD OF SALES

POSITION OVERVIEW

Our client, an established lifestyle footwear brand, is seeking an experienced and highly driven Global Head of Sales to lead its U.S. and international wholesale business and drive the next phase of growth.

This leader will own the long-term sales strategy while remaining highly engaged in day-to-day execution. A major focus will be accelerating wholesale growth, developing new business, expanding major accounts, and strengthening the company’s international distribution network.

The ideal candidate is a turnkey sales leader with deep wholesale experience, strong retailer relationships, and the financial acumen to translate account performance and market opportunities into actionable growth strategies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Sales Strategy & Growth

• Develop and execute the company’s global wholesale sales strategy across U.S. and international markets.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, with a particular focus on expanding major wholesale accounts.
• Build strategic growth plans by account, channel, and market while balancing revenue growth, profitability, and long-term brand health.
• Identify whitespace opportunities and new channels that can meaningfully expand the business.
• Establish clear sales goals, priorities, and execution plans across the organization.

Major Account Management

• Own and strengthen relationships with key wholesale partners while developing new strategic accounts.
• Personally lead relationships with buyers and DMM-level decision makers across major retailers.
• Develop account plans utilizing sales projections, weeks of stock, inventory levels, sell-through, and other key performance indicators.
• Translate account performance and market data into actions that improve sell-through and accelerate growth.
• Leverage existing industry relationships to open doors and develop new business.

Sales Leadership

• Lead the broader wholesale sales organization across major accounts, specialty, independent reps, and international distribution.
• Provide strategic leadership while remaining hands-on and close to the day-to-day business.
• Partner closely with specialty sales leadership to ensure alignment across channels and accounts.
• Lead and support a broad network of contract sales representatives across the U.S. and Canada.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance measures across the sales organization.

International Wholesale

• Oversee the company’s international wholesale business and distributor network.
• Manage and develop relationships with distributors across multiple global markets.
• Evaluate market performance and identify opportunities to expand distribution and accelerate international growth.
• Ensure international partners remain aligned with broader commercial and brand objectives.

Financial & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Own sales forecasting, projections, account planning, and performance analysis across the wholesale business.
• Maintain strong visibility into sell-through, weeks of stock, inventory, revenue, and overall account health.
• Partner closely with Product, Merchandising, Marketing, Finance, and Operations to align sales plans with company objectives.
• Bring customer and market insights back into the organization to inform product, assortment, inventory, and future business decisions.
• Provide executive leadership with clear visibility into performance, opportunities, risks, and growth priorities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of progressive sales experience, ideally within footwear, apparel, lifestyle, outdoor, action sports, or a related consumer products business.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field required.
• Proven experience leading a meaningful wholesale business at the Head of Sales, VP, Director, or comparable level.
• Demonstrated track record of building and executing wholesale growth and new business strategies.
• Deep major account experience with national and regional retailers.
• Strong existing buyer and DMM-level relationships within relevant wholesale channels strongly preferred.
• Experience managing independent sales representatives and international distributors.
• Strong financial and analytical capabilities, including forecasting, account planning, inventory, weeks of stock, and sell-through analysis.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining highly hands-on in execution.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to thrive in a dynamic, growth-oriented organization.