Chief Executive: Planning

Executive opportunity

Ackermans is looking for a commercially strong Chief Executive: Planning to lead merchandise planning for one of South Africa’s most recognised value retailers. This role reports to the CEO, forms part of the executive leadership team, and will influence how Ackermans plans, allocates and trades across more than 1,000 stores.

The successful candidate will strengthen planning as a strategic commercial capability, improving stock productivity, margin discipline, customer relevance and the quality of trading decisions.

Key accountabilities

• Define and deliver the merchandise planning strategy in support of sales growth, profitability and the Ackermans customer promise.
• Lead the planning function with clear priorities, strong governance and disciplined execution.
• Drive stock productivity, stock turn, markdown management, margin protection and cash-flow discipline.
• Lead a multi-year programme to modernise planning tools, systems and ways of working to improve decision speed and quality.
• Partner with Buying, Supply Chain, Finance, Operations and Technology to align commercial intent with execution.
• Build a high-performing planning team with strong technical depth, commercial judgment and succession strength.

Ideal candidate profile

The ideal candidate will bring deep merchandise planning experience, strong retail commercial judgment and the ability to operate confidently at executive level. They must be analytically rigorous, able to challenge assumptions, and effective at influencing senior stakeholders across the value chain.

Required experience and capability

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in clothing retail or a comparable merchandise-led retail environment.
• At least 3 years at executive or senior management level preferred.
• Proven experience leading merchandise planning, allocation, stock management or related commercial planning disciplines at scale.
• Strong understanding of the full retail merchandise cycle across Buying, Planning, Logistics, Stores and the source-to-store value chain.
• Experience leading systems, process or capability improvements in a retail environment.
• Relevant tertiary qualification preferred.

Leadership attributes

• Commercially astute, analytically strong and decisive.
• Able to simplify complexity and focus the business on the decisions that matter.
• Confident enough to challenge, mature enough to align, and disciplined enough to execute.
• A credible people leader who builds capability, accountability and succession depth.
• Aligned to Ackermans’ CRISP values: Courage, Respect, Integrity, Simplicity and Performance.

Location and travel

The position is located at the Ackermans Support Centre in Kuils River, Cape Town. Domestic and international travel will be required.

Employment equity

Preference will be given to candidates who enhance the diversity of the team and contribute to employment equity within the company. In line with Ackermans’ appointments and promotions policy, internal applicants who meet the competencies and minimum requirements will also be considered.

Application process

If you feel you meet the above requirements for this position, please submit your application on our careers site at www.ackermans.co.za/careers. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in formal assessments and panel interviews as part of the selection process.