Business Development Director, Watch Distribution - Americas

Business Development Director, Watch Distribution New York, NY Role Overview As Business Development Director, Watch Distribution - Americas you will support the regional Richemont Management by heading the governance of the Watch Maisons. You will identify and lead transversal business development opportunities across the region, focusing on distribution. You will act as the joint voice of the Watch Maisons externally with retail partners, and internally with the Maisons and Richemont Regional Functions. Richemont’s Watch Maisons include: Baume et Mercier, A. Lange & Söhne, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin and watch distribution of Cartier and Montblanc. Responsibilities Drive Watch Maison’s transversal business development in partnership with Maisons (focus on External Boutiques and Multibrand) Actively support Maisons to drive their 3-5 year distribution network planning and source new distribution opportunities based on Maisons’ priorities Effectively lead distribution projects and commercial discussions across Maisons Lead negotiations with retail partners (terms, space allocation, P&L) Align with Maisons on commercial strategy and priorities Lead internal arbitration in case of conflicting interests of Maisons Manage processes with group functions (Legal, Finance, Real Estate) Develop and maintain a close relationship with key retail partners Support Richemont Regional leadership team in heading the regional governance of the Watch Maisons Lead monthly Watch Distribution meetings with Richemont & Maisons Americas leadership at regional and country-level Advise local Richemont leadership team in approval process of all distribution projects (openings, closures, renovations) across all Maisons in the group Drive projects with synergies across Watch Maisons (e.g., Data & Analytics, Legal, Finance, Commercial, Marketing, After Sales, etc.) with external partners and group functions Head the Americas platform for Watches & Wonders, optimizing experience for Richemont and Maisons during planning and during the fair in Geneva Ensure that Richemont local leadership is aware of any key topics impacting Watch Maisons Drive data & analytics initiatives across Watch Maisons, partnering with Richemont Regional Functions Develop and enhance platforms that facilitate identification and prioritization of new distribution opportunities for Maisons (e.g., white spot analysis, competitor analysis, market sizing, and city prioritization) Support Maisons and Regional Functions by providing relevant market intelligence Drive reporting and share insights and recommendations to support Maisons, Richemont Regional Functions and the Regional Richemont CEO Qualifications MBA or MA in business preferred; BA in Business or adjacent field required 5-10 years of experience in commercial and/or wholesale management required; luxury environment preferred (luxury watches/jewelry a plus) Familiarity with luxury distribution network in the Americas preferred (key cities, shopping centers, retail partners) Strong leadership skills, with the ability to manage senior leaders transversally and arbitrate when necessary An entrepreneurial profile with a “can do” attitude and track record of delivering results A collaborative mindset, while having the capacity to advance on topics independently Ability to lead and prioritize tasks/projects/processes running in parallel in a fast‑paced environment A high level of organization and structure in work processes, with focus on attention to detail Substantial communication and presentation skills, ability to provide recommendations to senior management Strong analytical skills (ability to structure and analyze data to provide insight, build and analyze financial statements such as P&L) Must be based or able to relocate to the New York City area Written and verbal communication skills in English required; proficiency in Spanish is a plus Periodic travel required to visit boutiques and retailers; occasional international travel will be necessary We Offer Employee wellbeing is a top priority at Richemont. We offer a comprehensive benefits program to support employees and their loved ones. Our core benefits include medical, dental, and vision programs. Health savings and flexible spending accounts are also available. The company offers income protection solutions including life insurance, disability benefits, and 401(k) with employer match. Understanding the importance of work‑life balance, our total rewards include paid time off, a wellness reimbursement benefit, and access to the employee assistance program. Employees are encouraged to make a difference in their local communities with volunteer days off, supporting initiatives that drive change. Expected Salary Range $155,000-195,000 Salary will be determined based on relevant skills and experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr Richemont