Alvarez & Marsal

Companies, investors and government entities around the world turn to (A&M) for leadership, action and results.A&M's leadership is about a bias towards action and the willingness to tell clients what we think is needed. Our restructuring heritage sharpens our ability to act decisively. Clients select us for our deep expertise and ability to create and deliver practical, rather than theoretical, solutions to their unique problems in addition to our objectivity.When conventional approaches are not enough to create transformation and drive change, clients seek our deep expertise and ability to deliver practical solutions to their unique problems. With over 4,500 people across four continents, we deliver tangible results for corporates, boards, private equity firms, law firms and government agencies facing complex challenges. Our senior leaders, and their teams help companies act decisively, catapult growth and accelerate results. We are experienced operators, world-class consultants, former regulators and industry authorities with a shared commitment to telling clients what's really needed for turning change into a strategic business asset, managing risk and unlocking value at every stage of growth.

The Team

Our established Corporate Transformation Services (CTS) practice focuses on enterprise wide change to particularly help drive EBITDA improvement. Our highly experienced experts successfully work with clients in strategic transformation situations, either where an activist investor is looking for accelerated results, or where a company is looking to sustainably improve their earnings and profitability goals. We also help our clients navigate complex merger integrations and carve-outs and work for corporations across several industries including Retail, Consumer, Industrials, Healthcare, Media and Hospitality. Our scope of services includes turnarounds in both consulting and interim management positions in various functions including General Management.

The team focuses on commercial pre and post-merger integration, profitability, turnaround and transformation. The senior team brings unrivalled experience from both operational and advisory roles in the retail sector, as well as a strong network of high-level Retail contacts across France and Europe. The team of senior professionals have not just capabilities as consultants but in most, if not all, cases also a proven and successful track record as an operating executive at a senior level in the corporate world. These senior professionals relish the opportunity to work in a "hands-on" style with senior client management, and with the entrepreneurial freedom and opportunities which are at the heart of A&M's culture.

The Opportunity

Within the Paris office, an opportunity exists for a European Retail sector expert at the Senior Director level, with deep retail knowledge and insight, a broad and varied blend of operational and commercial skills, an entrepreneurial approach and highly developed networks across the industry. The successful hire will be responsible for supporting the Retail MDs and contributing to the build out of the profile and reputation of the firm. Ideally, you will be experienced in delivering solutions that address businesses critical issues either in an advisory capacity or taking the reins in an interim C-Suite role. You will operate on a pan-European level and, leveraging A&M's brand and expertise, help shape and build a differentiated, innovative and leading-edge consulting services.

Desired Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will be a high-energy individual with excellent operational and commercial skills and a track record of success. He/she will bring broad operational experience from blue chip retail environments, and a track record of Senior Executive roles with demonstrable business transformation and performance improvement. The successful candidate will also bring consulting experience from a leading strategy consultancy with a track record in supporting / driving the relationship and sales management process. He/she will be able to demonstrate a record of success in delivering major performance improvement projects in large retailers and, will have a tight grasp on current retail trends and operational challenges in such areas as:

• Buying, Merchandising and/or Category Management


• Range and Space optimisation


• Retail Operations


• Sourcing and Supplier Management


• Pricing and Promotions


• Retail Technology / I.T. Systems


• Distribution, Warehousing and Supply Chain


• Marketing and Customer Experience


• Organisational Alignment and Store Labour Optimisation


• E-Commerce and multi-channel retail


• International expansion


• Commercial Planning

We would expect the successful candidate to bring:

• Graduated from a leading "Grande Ecoles" in Business and / or Engineering, or equivalent


• 10+ years' experience, with the above outlined blend of corporate line management and advisory experience


• Experience and, consequently, a robust network across the French and European retail industry


• Clear determination to deliver the latest thinking in retail solutions within a highly competitive advisory marketplace


• Analytical rigour, preferably with financial experience


• Capacity to thrive in a fast-paced, challenging, and unpredictable environment


• Fluency in French and English are essential

Soft Skills

• Strong facilitation skills, forging consensus around credible, executable solutions.


• Excellent written and oral communications skills, confident presenter.


• Objective, fact-based approach to problem solving.


• Hands-on and non-hierarchical operator who is equally effective in managing up and down and relates well at all levels and cultures.


• Driven by values and integrity, talks straight, builds confidence and leads by example.


• The ability to manage a multiple stakeholder environment within a privately-owned business.

Lifestyle and Values

Attracted by our meritocratic culture and the opportunity to build a business with like-minded individuals, our people have joined A&M from top tier strategy houses, private equity firms, hedge funds, leading financial services institutions and senior roles industry and commerce. A&M is a fact-based business, based on pragmatism, as well as tangible and measurable success. It is an environment that presents a real opportunity for ambitious recruits to grow and thrive. Those high performing leaders who successfully develop business in the firm have the potential for excellent income as well as a share of the value of the practice they create. At A&M you will be given real responsibility as there are few layers of management. You will thrive on autonomy and you will be adept at anticipating what your audience needs.

Diversity & Inclusion

A&M's entrepreneurial culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who can positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging work-guided by A&M's core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity-are the main reasons our people love working at A&M. Inclusive Diversity means we embrace diversity and we foster inclusiveness. It runs through how we recruit, develop employees, conduct business, support clients, and partner with vendors. It is the A&M way.

Voluntary Inclusion

It is Alvarez & Marsal's policy to provide and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, pregnancy, marital status, family status, religion, national origin, age or disability or any other non-merit based factor in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Unsolicited Resumes from Third-Party Recruiters

Please note that as per A&M policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters were engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that A&M will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.