Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Commercial leader with more than two decades of experience in international premium and luxury retail and wholesale. My work focuses on building and scaling multi-boutique retail organisations while maintaining strong brand positioning and commercial discipline. Throughout my career I have been responsible for P&L performance, retail expansion and the development of high-performing teams across international markets. I am particularly interested in how premium brands can grow while preserving brand integrity and profitability. Currently Chief Operating Officer at Ladurée Germany, responsible for the operational development of the brand and its retail performance in the German market.
Responsible for the operational leadership and commercial performance of the brand in the German market. The role includes retail operations, organisational development and the alignment of brand positioning with sustainable commercial growth. Member of the Executive Management Board with overall responsibility for operational activities, including Marketing and PR.
Senior leadership role with a strong focus on retail operations and customer experience. Direct responsibility for day-to-day store management and commercial performance of the KaDeWe Berlin flagship boutique, including sales targets, staffing, client experience, service standards, and in-store execution. Close collaboration with boutique teams to elevate customer service excellence, selling ceremonies, and operational consistency in a high-traffic luxury environment. In parallel, advisory responsibilities toward the German licensee covering business development, B2B partnerships, marketing strategy, and e-commerce, ensuring alignment between retail execution and broader commercial objectives.
Built and led the German retail and wholesale business from the ground up, including expansion of mono-brand boutiques and key department store locations, such as KaDeWe Berlin, Alsterhaus Hamburg, Michael Meyer Sylt, Lodenfrey Munich, among others. Developed and executed the national sales and distribution strategy across B2B and D2C, including e-commerce. Expanded the B2B business with partners such as Cartier, Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton. Full P&L responsibility, including budgeting and forecasting. People leadership with responsibility for recruiting, training, and managing sales and retail teams
Strategic consulting and business development support within the fashion and lifestyle industry.
Led marketing, PR, and the build-up of the brand’s e-commerce platform, supporting digital growth, customer acquisition, and brand visibility in a highly curated premium retail environment. Held responsibility for brand positioning across online and offline channels, including the development of the digital customer journey, content strategy, and online assortment in close collaboration with founders, creative teams, and retail operations. Played a key role in translating brand identity into a consistent customer experience across physical retail, digital touchpoints, and communication, strengthening both commercial performance and long-term brand perception.
Founded Marco Stein Concepts in 2016 as a project-based platform for senior advisory and interim leadership assignments within the premium, luxury, and lifestyle sectors. Supported brands during key phases of market entry, growth, and organizational transformation, with a strong focus on retail strategy, commercial development, and brand positioning. Worked closely with founders, licensees, and executive teams as a hands-on sparring partner, contributing operational leadership across sales, retail, marketing, and business development initiatives. This work ultimately led to long-term executive leadership roles, including the launch and subsequent operational management of Ladurée Germany.
Led the commercial and merchandising strategy for the EMEA region, with responsibility for sales performance, distribution, and brand development across key European markets. Managed and developed regional teams, agents, and distributors, driving growth through department stores and specialty retail, including shop-in-shop concepts and optimized Open-to-Buy strategies. Worked closely with global HQ teams in planning, operations, marketing, and PR to ensure brand consistency, effective market execution, and strong sell-through performance across all channels.