Head of Category Development, SEAK

You will be responsible for driving category growth and development across Southeast Asia, Korea and Japan. The Head of Category Development is responsible for defining category strategy, accelerating category penetration, and delivering sustainable business growth by translating the Group category roadmap into actionable market plans and execution frameworks.

The role will work closely with commercial, professional relations, education, and market teams to build category awareness, strengthen customer engagement, and expand market opportunities across myopia control and non-myopia categories.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop and drive the full category strategic roadmap for Southeast Asia and Korea, aligned to the Group category roadmap, and provide clear guidelines and best practices to SEAK Markets.
• Set regional business development priorities and resource allocation to deliver annual budget targets while building toward medium and long-term ambitions.
• Leverage Group resources including product innovations, instruments, frames, and services to grow the myopia control and non-myopia category.
• Lead the Medical Marketing and Professional Relations strategy in partnership with the Head of Education and Professional Relations and the Leonardo Training Teams.
• Ensure Medical Science Liaison staffing across key geographies.
• Drive key opinion leader engagement through scientific events, congresses, and professional relations activities.
• Maintain the right standard of medical marketing content.
• Lead the dispensing eye care professional strategy across the region.
• Deepen eye care professional engagement and expertise through training, certifications, and the Essilor business-to-business program.
• Elevate the in-store experience, with a particular focus on creating compelling experiences for children.
• Build consumer awareness for myopia and non-myopia management across Southeast Asia and Korea.
• Execute consumer awareness programs and initiatives to drive category adoption and market penetration.
• Leverage frames and instruments capabilities, including refraction and measurements, to create a holistic consumer journey.
• Monitor the competitive and regulatory landscape continuously to identify emerging strategic opportunities.
• Act as the key liaison between global category teams and Southeast Asia and Korea commercial teams to ensure alignment between global priorities and local execution.
• Translate global category vision into clear regional and local execution plans.
• Champion a strong understanding of consumer behaviour, market dynamics, and category trends to inform strategic decisions.
• Stay ahead of shifts in consumer behaviour, competitive dynamics, and the category landscape, identifying and scaling new opportunities for growth.
• Build and lead a high-performing category development team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Drive disciplined execution across markets and ensure category initiatives deliver measurable business outcomes.

Job Requirements:

• Degree in Marketing, Business, Life Sciences, Healthcare, or a related field. A Master's degree or MBA is preferred.
• At least 15-20 years of progressive experience in category management, category development, business development, marketing, commercial leadership, or related functions within a complex international organisation.
• Proven track record of developing and scaling categories, driving market penetration, and delivering sustainable growth.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing category investments and business growth initiatives.
• Experience working closely with professional channels, healthcare professionals, or professional education ecosystems is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders across cultures, functions, and geographies.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities, with decisions grounded in data and market insights.