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
VP, International Sales / Marketing
3-5 years in a VP-level roleSkills to master
- Deep expertise in international GTM execution, building and scaling global sales/marketing teams, and driving revenue in diverse markets.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeded international revenue targets for multiple years.
- Successfully built and scaled high-performing regional sales or marketing organisations.
- Demonstrated strong strategic thinking beyond just sales/marketing execution, contributing to overall international strategy.
- 2
Head of Corporate Development (M&A)
3-5 years in a senior M&A roleSkills to master
- Expertise in M&A strategy, deal sourcing, due diligence, valuation, and post-merger integration for international targets.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led multiple international acquisitions from identification to integration.
- Developed a strong network within the investment banking and M&A community.
- Demonstrated ability to assess strategic fit and financial viability of complex international deals.
- 3
Regional Managing Director / GM
4-6 years leading a significant regional P&LSkills to master
- Full P&L ownership for a large region, deep understanding of local market dynamics, cross-functional leadership (sales, marketing, operations, finance) within a specific geography.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivered strong financial performance for a major international region.
- Successfully built and led a complete in-country or regional team.
- Proven ability to adapt global strategies to local market conditions and achieve market leadership.