Our Retail & Consumer Experience Practice brings brands to life in physical space. We combine global insight with leading expertise across architecture, interiors, experience design, and brand strategy to shape environments where people shop, gather, eat, play, bank, and unwind—spanning stores, F&B, competitive socialising, pop-ups and brand activations, banking and financial experiences, lounges and members' clubs, wellness destinations, and hospitality concepts.
We partner with brands and operators to create consumer environments that drive commercial performance, build loyalty, and set new benchmarks for creativity and impact—from strategy through concept to localisation and delivery.
Your Role
As Market Leader for the Retail & Consumer Experience Practice, you will be the driving force behind the growth, vision, and market positioning of our offering across London and the wider European region. You will bring deep sector expertise, strong client relationships, and a track record of translating brand strategy into physical experiences that perform.
You will lead business development, shape strategic direction, and work alongside design and delivery teams to bring standout consumer environments to life.
What You Will Do
- Build and expand relationships with brands, retailers, and operators to grow a leading consumer experience portfolio across the UK and Europe.
- Identify, pursue, and win high-profile projects across retail, F&B, competitive socialising, wellness, banking, and consumer brand experiences, while also partnering on cross-practice opportunities in hospitality, entertainment, sports, retail centres, aviation, residential, and workplace.
- Champion brand-led, consumer-centric design approaches that connect strategy to concept to built experience.
- Collaborate with studio, regional, and global leadership to promote an integrated, multi-disciplinary design culture.
- Lead business development efforts, including pipeline management, proposal strategy, fee structuring, and client presentations.
- Represent the practice externally through industry events, speaking engagements, and thought leadership initiatives as an influential voice in the European retail and consumer sector.
- Collaborate with the leadership team to provide strategic oversight on key projects, ensuring design excellence, technical quality, and exceptional client outcomes.
- Act as a senior client advisor and primary point of contact on major accounts and commissions.
- Deliver landmark projects that achieve recognition for innovation, creativity, and commercial impact.
- Mentor and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and growth.
- Attract and recruit top talent to strengthen and scale the practice.
Your Qualifications
- Proven track record delivering and winning high-profile consumer experience projects (e.g. flagship retail, F&B, competitive socialising, wellness, banking, lounges and clubs, pop-ups, or hospitality concepts).
- Demonstrated ability to build a business from brand strategy through to physical delivery, establish a market-leading position, and drive sustained revenue.
- Deep understanding of the retail industry and consumer experiences, as well as trends in brand engagement and consumer behaviour.
- Strong network within the European brand, retail, and consumer ecosystem.
- Exceptional leadership and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence clients and multidisciplinary teams.
- Passionate about growing relationships and careers in equal measure, raising the bar for both our clients and our talent.
- Combination of creative thinking and commercial acumen, with a passion for pushing boundaries and delivering future-focused experiences.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and win work.
Life at Gensler
We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical and dental insurance, season ticket loans, pension, profit sharing and twice-annual bonus opportunities.
As part of the firm's commitment to professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional qualifications and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programmes or classes. We view our professional development programmes as strategic investments in our future.
