Key Account Manager and UK South Area Retail Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Key Account Manager and UK South Area Retail Manager to join our Sales Team at one of the world’s leading specialist audio brands, KEF.

This role is home-based, with frequent travel across the South of England to manage key accounts and retail operations. Travel to our Maidstone office, the home of KEF, and our London office is also expected when required.

If you’re a self-motivated sales professional who thrives on performance, loves to go beyond expectations, and wants to represent a market-leading British loudspeaker brand in its home market, this is the role for you.

Summary

As the Key Account Manager and UK South Area Retail Manager, you will manage and grow KEF’s trade sales channels in the South of England while developing strategic national key accounts. This dual role focuses on achieving revenue and gross margin (GM) targets, expanding the distribution network, and delivering KEF’s “Win-Win-Win” and “listen and deliver” strategies.

Reporting to the Commercial Director, Europe, your responsibilities include: building robust partnerships with retail and distribution partners; ensuring the effective demonstration of KEF products in-store; and creating unforgettable brand experiences for consumers. As a key representative of KEF in its home market, you will be instrumental in ensuring its continued leadership in the audio industry.

Key responsibilities include:

Sales & Channel Marketing

• Expand and develop the distribution network, ensuring consumers experience best-in-class “listen and believe” moments.
• Drive sales performance across the independent retail and custom installer network to achieve revenue and GM targets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key accounts through regular in-person and remote communication.
• Maximise representation and exposure of KEF products by ensuring:
• KEF products are appropriately demonstrated and accessible in stores.
• KEF POS materials are effectively displayed in all relevant outlets.
• Product ranges align with store demographics.
• Listings are accurate and reflect brand assets.
• Collaborate with the UK Marketing Department to plan, manage, and execute impactful channel marketing initiatives, including cooperative campaigns.
• Deliver regular in-store training to retail staff to ensure consistent communication of the KEF brand and product value.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities aligned with KEF’s commercial strategy.
• Organise and conduct product demonstrations at trade shows and consumer events as required.

Key Account Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for strategic accounts, ensuring high levels of engagement and satisfaction.
• Negotiate contracts and agreements to maximise mutual business value.
• Collaborate closely with accounts to develop joint business plans and achieve mutual growth objectives.
• Monitor account performance and provide insights and recommendations to drive success.

General Duties

• Execute KEF’s “Win-Win-Win” and “listen and deliver” strategy with business partners, ensuring mutual growth and success.
• Represent KEF at internal and external events to enhance brand presence.
• Act as the “eyes and ears” of the market, providing actionable feedback and insights to internal teams.
• Participate in quarterly sales meetings and business performance reviews.
• Work collaboratively across internal departments, including Marketing, Sales Operations, Finance, and Technical Sales

You will have:

• Significant sales experience in High End Audio
• Proven record of meeting and exceeding targets, is essential combined with a passion for audio and enthusiasm for KEF’s brand values.
• Strong sales experience in the audio/hi-fi/consumer electronics/custom installation industries, with a proven record of success.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and organisational skills.
• Self-motivated, performance-driven individual who thrives on exceeding expectations.
• Excellent Team player
• Relevant qualifications in Sales, Marketing, or Business, or equivalent professional experience.
• Commercial acumen and strong analytical skills.
• Proficiency in creating cooperative marketing campaigns and leveraging marketing resources.
• Effective time management and ability to work autonomously.
• Confident presenter with strong written and oral communication skills.
• High proficiency in Excel and other MS Office tools.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Regular UK travel (up to 80%).
• Flexibility and adaptability to a dynamic work environment.

For more company details, please visit our website at https://uk.kef.com/.

We offer a competitive salary, bonus, company pension scheme, fully electric company car, career development opportunities, Employee Assistance Programme. Please send your full CV with current and expected salary by clicking "Apply".

KEF is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, age, colour, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability. Personal data collected will be treated as strictly confidential and used for recruitment purposes only.

All personal data collected during the application process will be kept for 12 months after its completion, and will be destroyed thereafter.