About the client:
A fast-growing international fashion group originating from China, known for its portfolio of trend-driven brands that combine accessible pricing with strong design and retail execution. With a vertically integrated model spanning design to retail, the company is rapidly expanding across Asia and into global markets through a mix of direct stores, franchises, and partnerships, supported by China headquarter and a growing overseas business division focused on Southeast Asia and beyond.
About the role:
You will be responsible for leading the end-to-end global product strategy in a fast fashion environment, covering design, buying, pattern making, production, and logistics. It focuses on defining product DNA, category mix, and pricing across regions, while managing cross-border design teams (Europe and Asia) and building an integrated merchandise lifecycle from concept to post-launch review. The role also holds full accountability for key commercial metrics such as OTB, inventory turnover, margins, and sell-through, alongside driving supply chain innovation and global expansion. At a strategic level, it involves building a high-performing international product organization and acting as a key advisor to senior leadership on product and merchandising direction.
Key responsibilities:
• Lead and oversee the global product strategy of the brand, covering five core functions: merchandise planning, design & buying, pattern making, production, and logistics.
• Define and execute the global merchandise strategy, including product DNA, category mix, pricing architecture, and market-specific differentiation.
• Oversee both the European and Asian product design centers, establishing a coordinated cross-regional design collaboration model.
• Manage the full product lifecycle from Design → Buy → Launch → Track → React → Review, ensuring a closed-loop merchandising system with strong fast-reaction capabilities.
• Lead global merchandise planning and OTB (Open-to-Buy) control, with accountability for key metrics such as inventory turnover, gross margin, sell-through rate, and hit rate of bestsellers.
• Drive system upgrades across pattern development, production processes, and fabric innovation, while building a global supply chain network.
• Collaborate with logistics to ensure efficient end-to-end fulfillment from production to global retail stores and e-commerce channels.
• Build and lead a high-performing global product organization, attracting and developing international talent.
• Participate in group-level strategic decision-making, acting as a key advisor to the Chairman on product and merchandising direction.
Requirements:
• Minimum 15 years of experience in product, merchandising, or buying within fashion/apparel/fast fashion, including at least 5 years in a CPO, VP Product, or equivalent group-level leadership role.
• Strong preference for candidates with global product leadership experience in international fast fashion brands such as Zara/Inditex, Uniqlo/Fast Retailing, H&M, Mango, ASOS, etc.
• Proven end-to-end ownership of the fast fashion product lifecycle (design, buying, pattern making, production, logistics).
• Experience building cross-border product systems from scratch, with familiarity in China–Europe or China–US collaboration models.
• Strong commercial acumen with deep understanding of regional consumer preferences, pricing strategies, and category dynamics. Demonstrated cross-cultural leadership capability, managing international design and buying teams across regions.
• Fluent or native-level business English; Mandarin is a plus.
• Willingness to be based in London and travel frequently across regions.