The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Manager, Customer Loyalty & Retention (L5)
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering team leadership, P&L ownership for a smaller function, strategic programme design, and executive communication to Directors.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeding NRR and churn targets for your managed function.
- Successfully building and developing a high-performing team of loyalty specialists.
- Demonstrable ability to influence senior leaders and drive cross-functional initiatives.
- Proactively identifying and capitalising on strategic opportunities for customer loyalty.
- 2
Head of Product (with strong CX focus)
4-6 yearsSkills to master
- Deep product management expertise, understanding the full product lifecycle, balancing customer needs with technical feasibility and business objectives, and leading product teams.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully launching customer-centric products or features that significantly improve loyalty metrics.
- Strong collaboration with CX and Customer Service teams to integrate feedback into product roadmaps.
- Demonstrable leadership in driving product strategy that directly impacts customer satisfaction and retention.
- Proven ability to manage a product P&L and deliver against commercial targets.
- 3
Senior Marketing Manager (Retention/CRM focus)
4-6 yearsSkills to master
- Expertise in CRM strategy, lifecycle marketing, personalised customer communications, and driving retention through targeted campaigns. Understanding the commercial impact of marketing on loyalty.
You're ready to move on when
- Significant improvements in customer retention rates and CLV through marketing initiatives.
- Successful design and execution of complex, multi-channel loyalty marketing campaigns.
- Strong analytical skills to measure campaign effectiveness and optimise for customer engagement.
- Proven ability to lead marketing teams and influence broader marketing strategy.