Key Account Director - UK and Europe

Key Account Director – UK and Europe. Hybrid. Netherlands. Salary Competitive

AKT (pronounced “act”) is The Personal Performance Company with multi award-winning body care that may change your life. Founded by West End stars Ed Currie and Andy Coxon, AKT is by and for those who are “Born to Perform” — on the stage, at work, or in life.

In 2020, The Deodorant Balm made its stunning debut to rave reviews and awards from Vogue, GQ, Esquire, and Harper’s BAZAAR. Plastic-free, aluminium-free, and gender-free, The Deodorant Balm instantly resonated with those looking for a natural deodorant that genuinely worked. Five fragrances and over 700,000 happy armpits later, The Deodorant Balm is already becoming a household name.

To this day, every new AKT product is put through its paces by London’s hard-working theatre community to ensure it lives up to the high standards of its founders. As a rule, AKT’s products don’t break character — ever. It’s this effectiveness that has propelled AKT from the backstage to bathroom cabinets, bedside tables, duffel bags, and carry-on luggage worldwide. And the good news is — the performance is just getting started.

About The Role:

In this brand-new role based in the Netherlands and reporting into the SVP Global Sales (US based), the Key Account Director – UK and Europe, leads AKT’s wholesale business across the region, driving revenue growth, strengthening retailer partnerships, and ensuring operational excellence. You will be directly responsible for leading AKT’s partnerships with UK & EU retailers, including Sephora, Space NK, Douglas, independents, and other strategic retailers. This role will work closely with other AKT colleagues in the UK specifically: Marketing on the Coordination of launches, activations, and retailer campaigns; Supply Chain & Operations Ensuring forecast accuracy, OTIF (on-time in-full) delivery, and allocation planning  Finance: to manage account-level P&L, budgets, and promotional spend and Product Development in order to Share retailer insights to influence pipeline.

Requirements

• Strategic Leadership: Deliver AKT’s UK & EU wholesale strategy, aligned with global objectives.
• Retailer & Distributor Partnerships: Maintain and grow senior-level relationships with buyers, planners, and distributors.
• Commercial Performance: Own account-level P&L, delivering revenue and margin targets across the UK & EU.
• Joint Business Planning: Lead JBPs with major accounts, defining targets, trade calendars, and growth plans.
• Market Development: Identify and secure new distribution opportunities in department stores, pharmacy, and niche channels.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with marketing, finance, operations, and product to deliver market-specific activations.
• Merchandising & Visibility: Maximise in-store and online execution to reinforce AKT’s premium brand positioning.
• Team/Agency Support: Support management of external field sales/merchandising agencies and support future team build-out.

About You:

• Experience as a key account management or channel sales experience, specifically within the beauty, skincare, or personal care industry. Must have experience working with Space NK, Sephora UK and/or Douglas.
• Industry knowledge: A deep understanding of the beauty and body care market, including product lines, industry trends, and consumer behaviour.
• Negotiation skills: Proven ability to negotiate and finalise contracts and manage promotional budgets effectively.
• Analytical skills: Demonstrable experience of analytical abilities to interpret sales data, manage budgets, and develop data-driven strategies.
• Communication skills: Excellent verbal and written communication, as well as strong presentation skills to engage with senior buyers and internal teams.
• Business acumen: Experience with profit and loss (P&L) management and financial analysis.
• CRM proficiency: Knowledge of and Familiarity with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel. 

Benefits

What’s on Offer:

• This is a great opportunity to make a real impact and join the business in its next stage of growth having launched in the USA last year
• Flexible Working Policy: work from home and at Co-Working office Space
• Employee discounts on our products
• Funny, kind and inc