Fashion executives play a crucial role in running any business in this sector. An executive promotes the retail chains and designer brands, ensuring that their sales are high and that your brand keeps the competition at bay. Fashion executives also manage the marketing campaigns and respond to the demands of the market. Given the vital role played by fashion executives in your business, you may develop a criterion for selecting suitable candidates in your fashion executive search. This article explains a few features you may look for when searching for a fashion executive. 

Data Fluency

A fashion executive must be fluent in data management. In your fashion executive search, ensure you shortlist candidates who have experience leading teams to leverage data and use predictive analytics to improve sales, supply chains and predict consumer behavior. Data fluency is a common requirement for executives in other industries, but it is essential for the fashion sector. As most fashion houses move towards the adoption of e-commerce, the role of fashion executives may require them to have data fluency skills. The fashion executive must understand the central role that data and technology play at every step of running a fashion business.

Managing Stakeholders

You must also consider the impacts of influencers and social media on the role of your fashion executive. The modern-day fashion executive is accountable to a more significant and influential group than the core shareholder and customers. Before the advent of social media, fashion brands dictated what people wear and other trends. Today, the fashion market depends on factors outside the brand's control. Therefore, ensure you shortlist candidates who can take a hands-on approach with social media campaigns and conventional marketing tools. The executive must manage the brand's social media to boost its brand equity. Other stakeholders that the executive must manage include the regulators and investors. For example, both of these stakeholders may need association with a brand that is considerate of its environmental impacts. The executive must consider whether the brand's commercial goals are in contrast with its sustainability practices. 

Culture Fitness

In your fashion executive search, another major factor you must consider is whether the creative director or team is compatible with the executive you plan to hire. If the executive successfully pushes the vision of your innovative team, the brand stands a chance of success. Not all partnerships are success stories since people have different personal preferences, backgrounds, and goals. However, having an executive who fully supports the creative culture at your organization regardless of individual reservations is an added advantage. Sometimes, the executive can take a back seat when their views differ from your company's culture. However, the support of the executive is necessary, and therefore you must prioritize executives who are compatible with your company's culture. 

Educational Background

The last fundamental issue you may require is a minimum of a degree in a sales, public relations, business, or advertising course. These qualifications are necessary for candidates who do not have a strong background in the fashion sector, sales, marketing, or leadership. Such an accomplishment guarantees that the candidate has strong communication skills, critical thinking skills, and sufficient knowledge of the business world. The educational qualifications also create a solid basis for training the candidate in running anything from a high-end department store to a retail chain. 

A fashion executive should show data fluency skills, excellence in managing stakeholders, culture fitness, and relevant educational qualifications.