Brief

Walpole is the official sector body for the UK luxury market, worth £48 billion to the UK economy.

Now in its thirtieth year, and with a membership of more than 250 brands, Walpole is the figurehead of British luxury. V&C were appointed to find an outstanding candidate for the role of Commercial Director, a newly-created strategic position focused on driving commercial relations between Walpole and its members.

Approach

We explored the brief to understand the Walpole culture and gain a full picture of the required role.

After discussion with the CEO and the board, we began looking at potential candidates in current positions requiring them to collaborate with partners on a commercial level, and a responsibility to generate exposure and revenue for both businesses. They would ideally have experience working across multiple sectors, centred predominantly around building strategic relationships. Additionally, as Walpole is not-for-profit, we were mindful to introduce candidates with the ability to work independently within a tight remit.

Outcome

The successful candidate had experience working in partnerships across the luxury sector, including The World’s 50 Best, an organisation that’s had unprecedented growth and developed relationships with incredible brands such as American Express, Deloitte, and Discover Moscow.

Our Partners

Relationships built on trust