Creative Director
Top Benefits
About the role
The client is a purpose-driven athletic apparel company redefining the way performance and lifestyle intersect. Their collections combine high-performance design with elevated aesthetics, drawing inspiration from sport, streetwear and contemporary culture. As they continue to expand their brand presence globally, they are seeking a visionary Creative Director to lead and shape their consumer brand identity across DTC eCommerce and wholesale touchpoints within our pro sports and corporate business units.
Overview:
They are seeking a visionary Creative Director to lead the development and execution of a unified creative strategy that defines and amplifies their brand across both wholesale and DTC eCommerce channels. As a key leader within the company, you will shape their storytelling, inspire teams, and ensure a consistent brand identity that resonates with our athletes and our sports fan enthusiasts.
The Creative Director is responsible for driving the creative vision and brand expression across all channels—product creative, brand campaigns, digital platforms, retail environments, and packaging. This role will lead and inspire an in-house creative team and collaborate cross-functionally with product, marketing, digital, and executive leadership to ensure a cohesive and elevated brand experience.
Key Responsibilities:
- Helping define and evolve the brand’s visual identity, tone, and narrative to differentiate in the athletic and lifestyle apparel space.
- Collaborate and help lead concept development for seasonal campaigns, product storytelling, brand activations, and collaborations.
- Guide the execution of brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all creative outputs.
Team & Process Management:
- Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary creative team including graphic designers, artists, copywriters, stylists, and content creators.
- Oversee internal creative workflows, briefing processes, timelines, and resource planning to meet business and seasonal deadlines.
- Work with external agencies, production studios, photographers, and creative partners along with internal marketing and DTC teams along with production departments.
Product & Design Alignment:
- Collaborate with product and merchandising teams to translate performance features and design language into compelling storytelling and visual assets.
- Provide direction for product photography, lookbooks, visual merchandising, and packaging design.
Campaign, Content & Creative Stack Strategy:
- Direct and work with the marketing department on creative strategy for brand campaigns, digital experiences, retail launches, and influencer content.
- Champion innovation in emerging formats—video, social-first storytelling, web and DTC and experiential retail.
- Define and evolve the brand’s creative technology stack—including design, collaboration, and content development tools—to improve efficiency and innovation.
- Evaluate and implement emerging creative technologies to enhance brand storytelling and user experience.
Executive Collaboration:
- Partner with marketing, digital, and executive teams on brand growth strategy, go-to-market plans, and market expansion.
- Present and pitch creative concepts to leadership, retail partners, and collaborators with clear rationale and vision.
Qualifications:
- 8+ years of experience in a Director leadership role, preferably in fashion, athletic, or lifestyle brands.
- 5+ years of experience growing DTC brands through ecommerce brands.
- Bachelor’s degree in Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field.
- Strong creative portfolio demonstrating excellence in branding, campaign development, and product storytelling.
- Proven experience leading and scaling high-performing creative teams.
- Deep understanding of apparel trends, sport culture, and customer mindsets.
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and creative project management tools (e.g., Asana, Notion). Fluency with evolving creative technologies including AI-enhanced design, content automation, and data-driven storytelling is a strong asset.
- Exceptional communication, leadership, and presentation skills.
What The Client Offers:
- A seat at the table in shaping the creative future of a growing Canadian athletic brand, driving its evolution into a leading DTC presence.
- Creative autonomy and opportunity to make bold moves in a competitive space.
- Competitive salary, bonus structure, and health benefits.
- Apparel allowance and staff discounts.
- Flexible work model and supportive, forward-thinking culture.
About Ari Agency Executive Search & Digital Recruitment
We are not just your typical Executive Search firm and Recruitment Agency; we are a North American boutique tailored for the digital age, boasting nearly two decades of successful strategic placements. Our roots lie in the digital product, e-commerce, creative design, marketing, and emerging tech realms, where we represent and collaborate with digital disruptors, transformers, and innovators from across North America serving 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 clients from global brands to high growth startups.
Partnering with us means aligning with a team deeply entrenched in the intricacies of the digital landscape. We specialize in working with global brands, technology startups, and independent digital marketing and design agencies that are not just pushing boundaries, but are also driving innovation and digital transformation, aiming to scale rapidly.
Our in-depth understanding of our clients' businesses sets us apart. Operating in specialized pods within key sectors such as Retail, CPG, SaaS, B2B, Pharma, Fintech and Technology, we focus on leaders across Marketing, Operations, Finance, eCommerce, Product Development, Creative Design, AI, Emerging Tech, Machine Learning, Data & Analytics. From the C-Suite to the Digital Suite, we cover the spectrum of leaders and innovators who will propel your business, products, marketing, organization, and culture forward.
If you are looking for an Executive Search and Recruitment agency that dominates the digital innovation and transformation space, look no further. We possess the knowledge, expertise, and know-how to guide our clients toward making superior hiring decisions, achieving exceptional results, and constructing high-performance teams that will transform their industries and redefine business categories. Connect with us, and let's embark on a journey of unprecedented success together!
Creative Director
Top Benefits
About the role
The client is a purpose-driven athletic apparel company redefining the way performance and lifestyle intersect. Their collections combine high-performance design with elevated aesthetics, drawing inspiration from sport, streetwear and contemporary culture. As they continue to expand their brand presence globally, they are seeking a visionary Creative Director to lead and shape their consumer brand identity across DTC eCommerce and wholesale touchpoints within our pro sports and corporate business units.
Overview:
They are seeking a visionary Creative Director to lead the development and execution of a unified creative strategy that defines and amplifies their brand across both wholesale and DTC eCommerce channels. As a key leader within the company, you will shape their storytelling, inspire teams, and ensure a consistent brand identity that resonates with our athletes and our sports fan enthusiasts.
The Creative Director is responsible for driving the creative vision and brand expression across all channels—product creative, brand campaigns, digital platforms, retail environments, and packaging. This role will lead and inspire an in-house creative team and collaborate cross-functionally with product, marketing, digital, and executive leadership to ensure a cohesive and elevated brand experience.
Key Responsibilities:
- Helping define and evolve the brand’s visual identity, tone, and narrative to differentiate in the athletic and lifestyle apparel space.
- Collaborate and help lead concept development for seasonal campaigns, product storytelling, brand activations, and collaborations.
- Guide the execution of brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all creative outputs.
Team & Process Management:
- Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary creative team including graphic designers, artists, copywriters, stylists, and content creators.
- Oversee internal creative workflows, briefing processes, timelines, and resource planning to meet business and seasonal deadlines.
- Work with external agencies, production studios, photographers, and creative partners along with internal marketing and DTC teams along with production departments.
Product & Design Alignment:
- Collaborate with product and merchandising teams to translate performance features and design language into compelling storytelling and visual assets.
- Provide direction for product photography, lookbooks, visual merchandising, and packaging design.
Campaign, Content & Creative Stack Strategy:
- Direct and work with the marketing department on creative strategy for brand campaigns, digital experiences, retail launches, and influencer content.
- Champion innovation in emerging formats—video, social-first storytelling, web and DTC and experiential retail.
- Define and evolve the brand’s creative technology stack—including design, collaboration, and content development tools—to improve efficiency and innovation.
- Evaluate and implement emerging creative technologies to enhance brand storytelling and user experience.
Executive Collaboration:
- Partner with marketing, digital, and executive teams on brand growth strategy, go-to-market plans, and market expansion.
- Present and pitch creative concepts to leadership, retail partners, and collaborators with clear rationale and vision.
Qualifications:
- 8+ years of experience in a Director leadership role, preferably in fashion, athletic, or lifestyle brands.
- 5+ years of experience growing DTC brands through ecommerce brands.
- Bachelor’s degree in Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field.
- Strong creative portfolio demonstrating excellence in branding, campaign development, and product storytelling.
- Proven experience leading and scaling high-performing creative teams.
- Deep understanding of apparel trends, sport culture, and customer mindsets.
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and creative project management tools (e.g., Asana, Notion). Fluency with evolving creative technologies including AI-enhanced design, content automation, and data-driven storytelling is a strong asset.
- Exceptional communication, leadership, and presentation skills.
What The Client Offers:
- A seat at the table in shaping the creative future of a growing Canadian athletic brand, driving its evolution into a leading DTC presence.
- Creative autonomy and opportunity to make bold moves in a competitive space.
- Competitive salary, bonus structure, and health benefits.
- Apparel allowance and staff discounts.
- Flexible work model and supportive, forward-thinking culture.
About Ari Agency Executive Search & Digital Recruitment
We are not just your typical Executive Search firm and Recruitment Agency; we are a North American boutique tailored for the digital age, boasting nearly two decades of successful strategic placements. Our roots lie in the digital product, e-commerce, creative design, marketing, and emerging tech realms, where we represent and collaborate with digital disruptors, transformers, and innovators from across North America serving 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 clients from global brands to high growth startups.
Partnering with us means aligning with a team deeply entrenched in the intricacies of the digital landscape. We specialize in working with global brands, technology startups, and independent digital marketing and design agencies that are not just pushing boundaries, but are also driving innovation and digital transformation, aiming to scale rapidly.
Our in-depth understanding of our clients' businesses sets us apart. Operating in specialized pods within key sectors such as Retail, CPG, SaaS, B2B, Pharma, Fintech and Technology, we focus on leaders across Marketing, Operations, Finance, eCommerce, Product Development, Creative Design, AI, Emerging Tech, Machine Learning, Data & Analytics. From the C-Suite to the Digital Suite, we cover the spectrum of leaders and innovators who will propel your business, products, marketing, organization, and culture forward.
If you are looking for an Executive Search and Recruitment agency that dominates the digital innovation and transformation space, look no further. We possess the knowledge, expertise, and know-how to guide our clients toward making superior hiring decisions, achieving exceptional results, and constructing high-performance teams that will transform their industries and redefine business categories. Connect with us, and let's embark on a journey of unprecedented success together!