UK Launch Lead / Founding Country Lead — Conversational Marketing SaaS

Company

Our client is a fast-growing French SaaS company operating in the conversational marketing space.

The company helps consumer brands turn messaging channels into high-performing retention, loyalty and customer engagement channels. By combining WhatsApp, automation and AI, the platform enables brands to create highly personalized customer journeys, trigger campaigns based on key customer events, and drive measurable revenue impact.

The business is already well established in France, with more than 500 clients across e-commerce, retail, beauty, healthcare, fashion and consumer goods. Its platform has powered over 120 million messages and generated tens of millions in additional revenue for its clients.

The company is now preparing its next stage of growth: launching and scaling its presence in the UK.

Role

This is a founding role for the UK market.

You will be the first representative of the company in the UK, with a clear mission: build the go-to-market strategy, sign the first customers, develop the local partner ecosystem, and lay the foundations for a long-term UK presence.

This is not a classic sales role. It is a highly entrepreneurial position at the intersection of sales, partnerships, market expansion and country building.

You will have significant autonomy on the UK market, while benefiting from centralized product, tech and operational support from the Paris headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

You will define and execute the UK go-to-market strategy for the first 6 months, identifying the right customer segments, verticals, agency partners and commercial entry points.

You will map and activate the UK e-commerce and retail ecosystem, including brands, CRM agencies, Shopify agencies, paid media agencies and relevant SaaS partners.

You will sign the first UK customers, both directly and through agency or technology partners.

You will build a strategic partner network, taking inspiration from the company’s successful model in France.

You will represent the company in the UK market and become the face of the brand locally.

Over time, you will help recruit, structure and manage a small local team, including sales and potentially customer success profiles.

Profile

You are based in London. This is a mandatory requirement.

You have at least 4 years of experience, excluding internships, in sales, partnerships or business development within a B2B SaaS environment, ideally connected to e-commerce, retail, CRM, marketing automation or customer engagement.

You have strong knowledge of the UK e-commerce ecosystem and an existing network across brands, CRM agencies, Shopify agencies, paid media agencies or SaaS partners.

You have already worked in a startup or scale-up environment and are comfortable with ambiguity, autonomy and fast execution.

You have an entrepreneurial mindset and are motivated by the idea of building a market from scratch.

You are commercially sharp, hands-on, resilient and able to operate independently before a local team is in place.

You speak fluent English, which will be the main working language for the UK market.

A background from a top-tier French business school or leading UK university would be highly appreciated.

Nice to Have

Experience launching a new geography or contributing to international expansion.

Knowledge of WhatsApp marketing, conversational CRM, CRM automation or retention marketing.

Experience managing a small sales or partnerships team.

Strong exposure to e-commerce brands and Shopify-driven ecosystems.

Location & Travel

The role is based in London.

Regular travel to Paris will be expected during the first months in order to understand the company’s culture, product, sales methodology and operating model.

Growth Path

In the first 6 to 12 months, the objective will be to close the first UK customers, structure the local go-to-market motion and start hiring the first local team members.

From 2027 onward, the role is expected to evolve into a full Country Manager position, with increasing ownership over the UK business, team and revenue.

Depending on performance and profile, there may also be a strategic equity participation opportunity in the UK structure.

Recruitment Process

First interview with the CEO.

Practical case: presentation of a 6-month UK go-to-market plan, including direct targets, agency partners and priority brand verticals.

Role-play: pitching the platform to the CEO acting as a prospective customer.

Compensation

Total package up to £140k, including approximately £100k fixed salary and £40k variable compensation.

Equity package included.

Final package and structure will be discussed depending on the selected profile.

Ideal Profile

We are looking for a London-based commercial leader with 4+ years of experience in B2B SaaS, ideally within e-commerce, CRM, marketing automation, retention, customer engagement or the Shopify ecosystem.

The ideal candidate has a strong UK network across e-commerce brands, retail companies, CRM agencies, Shopify agencies, paid media agencies and relevant SaaS partners.

This person must be able to both sell directly and build partnerships. They should be comfortable opening a market from scratch, defining the first UK go-to-market strategy, closing the first customers and laying the foundations for a local team.

The strongest profiles will come from companies in the e-commerce SaaS or marketing tech space, with experience as a Senior AE, Partnerships Lead, UK Market Lead, Expansion Manager, Commercial Lead or early Country Manager.

Key requirements:

• Based in London

• 4+ years in B2B SaaS sales, partnerships or business development

• Strong exposure to UK e-commerce / retail

• Existing network with brands and agencies

• Ability to close deals directly

• Entrepreneurial mindset

• Comfortable working alone in an unstructured environment

• Fluent English

Nice to have:

• Experience launching a new market or geography

• WhatsApp marketing / conversational CRM knowledge

• Previous startup or scale-up experience

• First management experience

• Top-tier French business school or leading UK university background

Red flags:

• Too corporate / used to inbound leads only

• Pure partnerships profile with no closing ability

• Too senior and no longer hands-on

• No UK e-commerce network

• Not based in London