Executive Chair

Established in 1997, ACS Clothing Limited is a disruptive and innovative rental, subscription and re-commerce business providing sophisticated reverse logistics services and commercial insights to clothing brands, retailers and platforms, alongside direct-to-consumer cleaning and retail offerings. It is an end-to-end solutions provider operating Europe’s largest fashion rental and re-commerce facility. 

The business traditionally operated in the UK “white label” menswear market and remains the leading name in this space. However, over recent years as fashion stakeholders and consumers alike have increasingly begun to challenge the industry to improve its sustainability profile, ACS has been able to leverage its unparalleled experience and well-invested facilities to unlock new market verticals in clothing subscription, womenswear/babywear rental and resale/re-commerce services for brand partners which collectively underpin a highly attractive growth opportunity. 

The organisation boasts recognisable high street retailers within its client portfolio including Moss, Slaters Menswear, LK Bennett, Nudie Jeans and online eCommerce businesses such as eBay, ASOS, Reflaunt, HireStreet and My Wardrobe HQ. 

In 2022, ACS received significant investment from private equity firm, Circularity Capital, to help support the further expansion of ACS’ enabling solution to meet demand of a growing fashion rental industry. 

With a commitment to, and a strong strategic focus on sustainability, evidenced by the recent BCorp accreditation, the organisation is well placed to thrive in a growing market within the circular economy.  

The Opportunity  

ACS is seeking to appoint an Executive Chair to work closely with the CEO, investors and the wider executive team over the next 12 months before [ideally] transitioning into the role of a Non-Executive Director. 

The Executive Chair will support the business in delivering its long-term strategy and allow ACS to strengthen its leadership and governance capabilities. The Chair’s key role will be to promote cohesion and alignment among board members by setting priorities with the CEO, providing support where necessary, facilitating open debates and creating an environment for informed decision-making, whilst continually evaluating the company in three areas: governance, strategy and team alignment.  

Candidate Requirements  

We are seeking to appoint an experienced business leader who has operated in a scaling business as CEO [or equivalent]. The successful candidate will understand corporate governance and ideally have spent time in a Non-Executive capacity. 

We are looking for candidates who have operated in high-volume, fast paced operating environments within manufacturing or logistics services businesses of comparable scale and have an excellent understanding of best practice governance, board dynamics and board effectiveness. 

Whilst not essential, it would be advantageous if the successful candidate has experience of business growth and exit in a PE-backed environment and has therefore ‘experienced the journey’. 

The position of Executive Chair requires a commitment of approximately 5-6 days per month during the first 6-12 months of the role. Following this initial period, the Executive Chair will transition to a more traditional non-executive director role, requiring a commitment of 1-2 days per month. 

For further information, to request the detailed candidate brochure or to arrange a confidential discussion regarding this position, please contact Jamie Brown on: applications@fwbparkbrown.com. Or alternatively, you can contact our Edinburgh office by phone on +44 131 539 7087.