Vice President, Sales Europe – Fanatics Collectibles

Fanatics Collectibles / Topps is seeking a dynamic and experienced Vice President of Sales to lead its Europe-based sales team and drive revenue growth across the region. Reporting directly to the Regional President EMEA & LatAm, the Vice President of Sales, Europe will be responsible for developing and executing strategic sales initiatives to expand Topps' market presence, strengthen customer relationships, and maximize sales opportunities. The ideal candidate is a global sales leader with proven experience executing at a high level while building out a European, best-in-class sales organization, bringing leadership and change management to evoke a culture that sells with a purpose and passion around sports, culture & entertainment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive multi-channel sales strategy aligned with Fanatics Collectible's business objectives to drive profitable revenue growth and market expansion in Europe with a focus on UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
• Build, lead and inspire a high-performing sales team, providing guidance, coaching, and performance management to achieve individual and collective sales targets.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key accounts, distributors, retail and e-Comm partners to drive sales volume and increase brand visibility.
• Transition the German and UK markets from distributor relationships to direct sales to key account retailers, leveraging our best-in-class licenses and IP which include UEFA, Bundesliga, F1, Marvel, and a dozen of the top European sports clubs.
• Improving terms with distributors and retailers, with a focus on reducing return rates across all countries, and accelerating payments.
• Drive the sales and distribution of high end, high margin ‘hobby' product in mass retail focusing the team on this segment versus the current focus on stickers and Match Attax products.
• Focus the team on delivering contribution margin and profit, not just revenue and analyse, by country, by product, by distributor – where opportunities exist for growth, streamlining or rationalisation to drive bottom line performance.
• Collaborate with HR to create an incentive structure for the sales teams that drives the above behaviours.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, product development, and operations teams to ensure alignment and execution of sales initiatives.
• Analyse market trends, competitive landscape, and consumer insights to identify opportunities for product innovation and market differentiation.
• Drive the development and execution of promotional programs, pricing strategies, and merchandising initiatives (including the optimal placement in stores) to enhance brand awareness and drive sales performance.
• Develop and manage sales forecasts, budgets, KPIs, and point of sale data to monitor performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Stay abreast of industry developments, regulatory changes, and emerging market trends to inform strategic decision-making and maintain a competitive edge.
• Represent Topps at industry events, trade shows, and customer meetings to promote brand awareness and foster strategic partnerships.
• Uphold Topps' commitment to quality, integrity, and customer satisfaction in all sales activities and interactions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive sales leadership experience in consumer goods with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and building high-performance teams.
• Strong understanding of the European market dynamics, distribution channels, and retail landscape.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve results.
• Strategic thinker with a data-driven approach to decision-making and a passion for driving innovation and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to develop and execute sales strategies that deliver measurable business results and exceed customer expectations.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing market conditions.
• Willingness to travel extensively within Europe and internationally as needed.
• A passion for sports, entertainment and culture.

Fanatics Collectibles is a leading licensor, producer, designer, and seller of physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets for entertainment and sports properties globally, as well as a manufacturer of physical and digital trading cards. It has secured exclusive licensing arrangements with major national professional sports leagues, including the MLB, NFL and the NBA, and related players associations, to produce physical and digital trading cards and other collectibles.

Fanatics Collectibles also has partnerships with a number of individual international sports teams and leagues, as well as owners of other entertainment properties granting similar exclusive rights. Fanatics Collectibles recently announced Fanatics Live, expected to launch later in 2023, which will focus on transforming the digital shopping experience through personality-driven content and entertainment.