Zenith Head of Sales
About Zenith
Zenith is a Swiss watch manufacture renowned for technical innovation and haute horlogerie, operating within the Watches & Jewellery division of a major luxury conglomerate (LVMH). The brand combines artisanal craftsmanship with global distribution and a strong emphasis on product heritage, offering an international, performance-oriented workplace for professionals in luxury retail and wholesale.
Zenith Head of Sales — Tokyo: lead wholesale and retail strategy, inventory allocation and team development for the Japan market.
Role & Responsibilities
- Define and execute the medium- and long-term sales strategy for Japan, including annual sales plans, budgeting, financial and marketing analysis.
- Oversee wholesale development: negotiate with retailers, expand and optimize the wholesale network, and manage franchise or concession opportunities.
- Lead retail operations to ensure boutique performance: achieve sales targets, uphold client service and clienteling standards, and implement central policies.
- Manage inventory analysis and product allocation across channels in coordination with HQ product, supply chain and local logistics teams.
- Prepare and control sales expenses and capital spending within approved budgets; ensure operational procedures are established and followed.
- Coordinate cross-functional activities with Marketing, Customer Service & Logistics, HR, IT and Compliance to secure market execution and audit readiness.
- Recruit, coach and develop the local sales organization; set objectives, monitor performance and implement succession planning.
- Ensure retailer staff complete Zenith training (e-learning and in-person) and drive wholesale sell-out and market share improvements.
Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in wholesale and retail sales management, preferably within luxury goods or watchmaking.
- Proven track record negotiating with retail partners and developing wholesale networks.
- Business-level Japanese and English (both required); international work experience preferred.
- University degree in Marketing, Economics, Business, Finance or Statistics.
- Strong financial literacy: budgeting, sales forecasting and market analysis.
- Demonstrated leadership in people management, coaching and performance management.
Skills
Experience
Minimum 10 years of experience with substantial responsibility for wholesale and retail sales operations; prior experience managing luxury brand distribution and retailer relationships is preferred. International exposure and prior leadership of multifunctional sales teams are advantageous.
Education
University degree in Marketing, Economics, Business, Finance or Statistics.
Workplace
The role is situated in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Culture
Zenith fosters a culture that balances artisanal watchmaking heritage with entrepreneurial drive and international ambition. The environment emphasizes craftsmanship, high standards of client service, cross-functional collaboration and professional development within a global luxury group.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Zenith, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Sales Director — Japan», «Country Head of Sales», «Head of Wholesale & Retail», «Director of Retail and Wholesale», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.