Regional BD Manager (Retail)

An established premium lifestyle retail brand is seeking an international business-development professional to accelerate its expansion through distribution, franchise, and strategic retail partnerships. Alongside international expansion, the role will also develop selected B2B opportunities in local market.

Responsibilities

• Develop a structured pipeline of prospective distributors, franchisees, retail groups, and strategic wholesale partners across Southeast Asia and the GCC.
• Conduct commercial due diligence on prospective partners, including their retail footprint, brand portfolio, financial position, market reputation, operational capabilities, and potential channel conflicts.
• Lead or support negotiations covering territory rights, commercial terms, minimum purchase commitments, pricing principles, retail formats, store-opening plans, visual-merchandising requirements, and operational support.
• Work with internal stakeholders and external advisers to understand market-entry requirements, including import processes, product labelling, regulatory compliance, certificates of origin, duties, and local product requirements.
• Manage the onboarding process for new partners, ensuring they are equipped with appropriate brand knowledge, product training, sales tools, operating processes, and retail standards before launch.
• Take ownership of partner performance after launch, including annual business plans, sales targets, monthly performance reviews, seasonal sell-in, stock planning, sell-through analysis, replenishment, and reorder opportunities.
• Monitor partner compliance with pricing, promotional activity, markdown policies, visual-merchandising expectations, and wider brand standards.
• Conduct market visits and provide regular insights on local competitors, consumer preferences, pricing, category opportunities, and potential future markets.
• Coordinate closely with merchandising, marketing, product, finance, supply-chain, and operations teams to support partner launches and ongoing commercial performance.
• Build and manage a pipeline of B2B clients in Hong Kong and Singapore, including corporate-uniform programmes, employee gifting, hospitality, bulk orders, and other commercial partnerships.
• Develop a strong understanding of the product range, fabric technologies, fits, and customer benefits in order to confidently present the offering to buyers, corporate clients, and partner teams.
• Prepare commercial proposals and coordinate internal teams to deliver suitable product, pricing, and service solutions for B2B customers.
• Maintain clear account records, opportunity tracking, and relationship-management processes to support sustainable growth of the B2B channel.
• Progressively hand over or systemise routine B2B account-management activities as the international partner network expands.

Requirements

• At least 6 to 10 years in international business development, wholesale, franchise, distribution, key accounts, or retail expansion.
• Relevant background within fashion, apparel, footwear, accessories, lifestyle, premium consumer goods, or a comparable branded retail environment.
• Demonstrated experience engaging, negotiating, and managing distributors, franchisees, wholesale accounts, retail groups, or other external commercial partners.
• Existing connections with retail groups, distribution companies, franchise operators, or commercial partners in Southeast Asia and/or the GCC would be highly advantageous.
• Strong commercial understanding of wholesale economics, partner P&L, retail margins, inventory planning, open-to-buy, sell-through, pricing, and markdown management.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment where processes and market-entry plans are still being developed.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Cantonese and/or Mandarin would be beneficial; additional Southeast Asian or Middle Eastern language capability would be an advantage.
• Willing and able to travel.

Click "Apply Now" to apply for this position or call Martin Tsang at [+852 3180 4971](tel:+852 3180 4971) for a confidential discussion. All information collected will be kept in strict confidence and will be used for recruitment purpose only.