Global VP Design (Speedo)

Pentland Brands

13d•Onsite

About The Position

This is not just a design role. As Global VP of Design, you will be the creative heartbeat of Speedo - shaping the global design vision, aesthetic, and expression across all categories and global markets. This is a strategic, consumer-centric, and leadership-heavy position requiring creative brilliance, swimwear expertise, and the confidence to navigate a complex matrix organization, all while keeping Speedo ahead of the curve in innovation, culture, and commerciality. Sitting on the Brand Leadership Team, you’ll craft a distinct design language that is boldly Speedo: performance-rooted, future-focused, and emotionally resonant with consumers around the world. This role leads a multidisciplinary design team while collaborating closely with marketing, merchandise, and product teams. You will champion the integration of embedded design thinking, leverage AI-powered creative tools, and harness digital design excellence.

Requirements

Proven experience in leading global design for a premium consumer brand, ideally in swimwear, sport, or performance fashion.
Outstanding creative credentials, with an ability to translate cultural insight and technical innovation into iconic product.
A track record of delivering both visionary design leadership and commercial impact.
A global mindset with a deep understanding of global consumer segmentation, regional differences, and how to build global brands with local nuance.
Strong experience operating in matrix organizations, with the ability to align and influence across geographies and functions.
An entrepreneurial, agile, and solution-oriented mindset; thriving in a dynamic, fast-moving environment with a bias toward curiosity and exploration of emerging technologies.
A natural coach and mentor; energizes and empowers others to do the best work of their lives.
Passion for water, movement, and designing with purpose.
10+ years of experience in brand design, marketing design, or creative leadership roles with global exposure.
Proven ability to influence lead dimensional design teams, while influencing cross-functionally.
Strong conceptual thinker with an eye for detail, brand nuance, and storytelling through product
Comfortable navigating complex, global, matrix organizations and an ability to negotiate ambiguity within a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience with AI design tools (generative design, automation platforms)

Responsibilities

Define and lead Speedo’s global creative vision and design DNA, ensuring relevance, differentiation and consistency across all consumer segments and product categories resulting in a visual identity of the brand across markets.
Champion innovation by pushing creative and technical boundaries through partnerships with internal innovation teams to shape next-gen swimwear, racing, and lifestyle collections.
Deliver world-class swimwear design with deep understanding of hydrodynamics, fit, materials and athlete insight.
Create and own seasonal design direction from trend forecasting, concept development and storytelling to execution across product ranges.
Strategically influence and partner with marketing, product, comms, and digital teams to align brand expression with business goals.
Inspire, mentor, and manage a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team of designers, fostering a culture founded in growth mindset, collaboration, excellence, and inclusion.
Embed design into the heart of the business to ensure consistency and creative integrity from product inception to consumer marketplace.
Drive the implementation and adoption of generative AI tools and digital design systems to accelerate creativity, personalization, and scalability.
Be a global ambassador for the brand, leading design direction and future vision to service and maintain key customers, markets and retail partners.
Navigate, establish norms, and influence within a complex, matrixed global structure, balancing agility with strategic intent.
Drive a culture of growth mindset, openness and continuous improvement across your teams and peers.