Executive Director

Function

Direct Reports

Role Purpose

• The Executive Director will lead HAAL through its next phase of growth by integrating and scaling multiple businesses into a unified, high-performing cultural retail platform with national reach and international relevance.
• This role holds full accountability for:
• Strategy
• Commercial Performance
• Profitability
• Brand Positioning
• Partnerships
• Capital Allocation
• Organizational Development

• Governance & Operational Scalability

• The Executive Director will define and execute the platform’s strategic direction, establish commercial and creative standards, strengthen operational infrastructure, and drive synergies across all business verticals.
• This role requires a leader capable of balancing:
• Commercial Discipline
• Cultural Authenticity
• Creative Ambition
• Operational Excellence
• Stakeholder Management

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute HAAL’s strategic vision, growth plans, and expansion initiatives in alignment with group objectives and Saudi Vision 2030.
• Oversee full commercial and financial performance, including P&L, budgeting, revenue growth, profitability, and operational efficiency.
• Drive brand positioning, product strategy, merchandising, and customer experience while ensuring authentic Saudi cultural storytelling.
• Build and manage strategic partnerships with museums, cultural institutions, government entities, giga-projects, and commercial partners.
• Lead the development and operations of lifestyle destinations, retail districts, and omni-channel platforms across physical and digital channels.
• Establish high-performing teams, governance frameworks, and scalable operating models to support sustainable growth and organizational excellence.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience across retail, fashion, hospitality, cultural institutions, destination management, lifestyle destinations, or branded experiential businesses.
• Minimum 7 years in an Executive Director, Managing Director, General Manager, or equivalent executive leadership role with full P&L responsibility.
• Proven experience building, scaling, and operating multi-business or multi-site platforms.
• Strong experience in commercial destinations, leasing, tenant management, mixed-use environments, or destination operations is highly preferred.
• Experience in omni-channel retail, e-commerce, and integrated commercial platforms is preferred.
• Saudi Arabia or GCC market experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience operating in complex, fast-evolving, and multi-stakeholder environments is essential.
• Exposure to government, semi-government, cultural, tourism, or giga-project stakeholders is preferred.

Capabilities

• Strong commercial, strategic, and financial acumen.
• Deep understanding of retail operations, customer experience, and destination management.
• Excellent stakeholder management and partnership-building capabilities.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational development skills.
• Ability to balance commercial priorities with cultural authenticity and creative excellence.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
• High adaptability with the ability to operate effectively in rapidly evolving environments.

Education & Languages

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• Professional fluency in English required.
• Arabic is strongly preferred.