Labor
Join the Lacoste Team as our Key Account Manager – Footwear – UK & Ireland!
Reporting to: Head of Sport UK/ROI
Location: London or Manchester is preferable
At Lacoste, we believe that everyone brings a unique touch to our collective spirit. Here, we are passionate teams, united by the same values. Together, we create memorable experiences for our customers by inspiring and connecting with them. Both universal and timeless, the brand brings together cultures and generations. Elevating the crocodile as a rallying sign, to grow, inspire, and make a lasting impact in the world of fashion and retail.
As our Key Account Manager – Footwear, you will play a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of Lacoste Footwear across the UK & Ireland market. Working closely with key wholesale partners, you will drive a highly responsive sell-through model, strengthen our presence within premium and sport distribution channels, and ensure all growth is delivered in line with brand strategy and premium positioning. Reporting to the Head of Sport UK & ROI, you will develop and execute ambitious commercial plans, build strategic partnerships with leading retailers, and identify new opportunities to expand our market share.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded footwear specialist to shape the future of one of the most iconic brands in fashion-sport and help deliver our vision of becoming the most inspiring brand in Fashion-Sport.
Your responsibilities:
- Drive Wholesale Growth & Commercial Performance: Lead the Footwear business across key wholesale accounts, delivering and exceeding turnover, margin, and category management targets through strategic planning and execution
- Manage Strategic Key Accounts: Own the full seasonal sales cycle, from line presentations and buy meetings through to in-season performance management, building strong long-term partnerships with key customers
- Optimise Sell-Through Performance: Analyse trading performance, monitor sell-through data, and implement action plans with partners to maximise sales, maintain full-price sell-through, and enhance customer engagement.
- Elevate Brand Presence & Retail Excellence: Ensure Lacoste Footwear secures premium placement within key accounts, maintaining best-in-class visual merchandising standards and protecting the brand's premium positioning in the marketplace.
- Collaborate Across Functions: Work closely with Global Product Teams, Demand Planning, Supply Chain, Training, and Marketing teams to ensure product relevance, inventory alignment, and successful commercial execution.
- Develop New Business Opportunities: Identify and prospect new accounts in line with the brand strategy, expanding distribution within key tiers while strengthening Lacoste's position in the most influential stores across the market.
- Be the Voice of the Market: Maintain a strong presence in the field, gathering customer insights, monitoring competitor activity, and identifying market opportunities to support future growth and brand desirability.
Why join Lacoste?
Working at Lacoste means…
Representing an iconic brand that’s part of the MF Brands Group, alongside Aigle, Gant, and Tecnifibre, paving the way for exciting internal mobility opportunities. Joining a team that values personal and collective development, where everyone is encouraged to grow and evolve. Balancing passion and well-being, because we believe that everyone needs time to recharge. Embracing our Durable Elegance approach – placing our products and value chain at the heart of our sustainability ambitions, with a mission to elevate them to environmental excellence. As well as fostering social inclusion by making equal opportunities a reality through impactful opportunities.
Rewards & Benefits:
Package: up to £50-£55k per annum + bonus + car allowance
Health & Wellbeing: Regular team activities (e.g. run club, yoga), Private Healthcare (optional), Employee Assist Programme with the Retail Trust
Holidays: 25 days per year plus usual UK bank holidays
Swag: Seasonal uniform allowance and up to 65% off Lacoste products
Learning & Development: Continuous support on your learning journey from day one
Parenthood: Enhanced family leave and pay from day one, paid Assisted Conception leave
Extras: Employee Referral, Long Service Award, Social Committee events
Ready to join a unique adventure?
1st step: Apply now and live the Lacoste candidate experience
2nd step: First call with the Talent Acquisition Business Partner
3rd step: 1st stage interview with the Head of Sport
4th step: 2nd stage interview with the Wholesale Director
5th step: Accept the challenge and become a Lacoste teammate!
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application, feel free to get in touch with us by email uktalent@lacoste.com (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line).
Perfil
Your profile:
- Share the same values: Play as One Team | Play with Elegance | Play by Daring | Play with Tenacity
- Footwear Industry Expertise: Proven experience managing key wholesale footwear accounts, with a strong understanding of the UK footwear market and its leading retail players.
- Established Industry Network: Strong relationships and credibility within Tier 0 and Tier 1 retail environments, with the ability to influence and develop strategic partnerships.
- Commercial & Strategic Mindset: Able to build and execute long-term business plans, identify growth opportunities, and translate strategy into tangible commercial results.
- Sales & Negotiation Skills: Highly effective at managing seasonal sell-in processes, negotiating commercial agreements, and driving profitable revenue growth.
- Market & Consumer Awareness: Strong understanding of retail trends, competitor activity, and consumer behaviour, with the ability to adapt strategies to changing market dynamics.
- Presentation & Communication Excellence: Confident presenting to senior stakeholders and customers, with the ability to influence, inspire, and build trust across all levels.
- Systems & Analytical Skills: Comfortable working with commercial data, performance reporting, and Microsoft Office applications, using insights to drive decision-making and business performance.
- Growth Mindset: Results-driven, proactive, and entrepreneurial, with the ambition to challenge the status quo, create opportunities, and continuously raise the profile of Lacoste Footwear within the market.