RETAIL
Retail Executive Search in New Zealand
Pace, product, performance.
Retail is decided at the till and at the head office in equal measure. Our Auckland executive search practice works with multi-site retailers, omnichannel brands and category specialists across New Zealand on retained search for CMOs, COOs, Heads of Retail and non-executive directors. We start every engagement with a board-grade brief focused on what the business actually needs to grow.
The Market
New Zealand retail is consolidating, digitising and rethinking what a store is for.
Cost-of-living pressure, e-commerce maturity and the steady arrival of Australian and global category killers are reshaping the landscape. Boards want operators who can hold customer experience, supply chain discipline and digital execution in one team.
Where the sector is shifting.
Stores become experience hubs.
Multi-channel is the default. Loyalty data is shaping merchandising decisions. Private label and curated assortments are growing faster than the rest of the market.
Margin and labour.
Wages are rising faster than basket size. Store footprint decisions are getting harder. Retention of high-performing store leaders is a constant priority.
Australian operators are crossing the ditch.
Trans-Tasman expansion is bringing new entrants and new exec demand. Online-first brands are opening physical footprints. Senior buyers and merchandise planners are in short supply nationwide.
Who We Place
Leadership roles we search across retail and consumer brands.
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Chief Operating Officer
- Head of Retail
- Merchandise Director
- Head of E-commerce
- Head of Stores
- Head of Supply Chain
- Head of Loyalty and Customer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Head of People and Culture
- Independent Chair
- Non-Executive Director
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
01. Do you recruit across both specialty and mass-market?
Yes. We recruit across the full retail spectrum. That includes specialty retailers, multi-site chains, omnichannel brands, supermarket groups, e-commerce-first businesses and category specialists. Our retained search engagements cover both leadership and specialist roles.
02. Can you find chairs and non-executive directors with retail, merchandising, e-commerce and consumer brand backgrounds?
Yes. We maintain a curated Board & NED Network that includes operators, finance specialists, governance veterans and senior leaders with deep retail experience. We can build a chair shortlist, refresh a board, or place a single non-executive director.
03. What does an Infinitas retail search engagement look like?
Retained search. Every engagement begins with a board-grade brief covering role architecture, success measures, the operating context and the cultural lens. From there we run a structured market map, a long-list of identified candidates, structured interviews and competency assessment, references and a written shortlist report. Engagements typically run 8 to 12 weeks and test commercial sense and customer obsession in equal measure.
04. Where in New Zealand do you operate?
We are based in Auckland and run searches nationally. That includes Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, Hamilton, Dunedin and the regions. Where a role requires a trans-Tasman or international map, we extend the search accordingly.
Related Sectors
Where leaders cross over.
Sales Directors, Heads of Marketing, Supply Chain and Commercial Leads who drive growth and market share.
COOs, Network Directors and Heads of Operations who keep freight and logistics moving.
CTOs, Product Directors and Heads of Transformation across NZ tech, telco and digital.
Ready to Talk
Ready to build your next retail leadership team?
Partner with Infinitas to recruit executives who drive multi-site performance, customer experience and category growth.