APAC Franchise and Expansion Director

Career Opportunity: Director of Regional Development (APAC) Our client, a high-growth premium tea brand, is seeking a visionary Director of Regional Development (APAC) to architect and execute their multi-market expansion strategy. This is a critical leadership appointment for a professional who thrives at the intersection of strategic market entry, joint venture negotiations, and large-scale retail rollout. The Challenge As the brand transitions into its next phase of maturity, you will lead the charge in identifying and onboarding master franchisees and strategic partners across Southeast Asia, ANZ, and Greater China. This role requires a balance of analytical rigor-conducting feasibility and investment studies-and the commercial deal-making intuition needed to secure prime real estate and top-tier operators.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Market Entry: Lead end-to-end partner acquisition across APAC, from initial market mapping and feasibility studies to final onboarding.

Partnership Management: Identify and secure high-quality JV partners and master franchisees develop robust commercial and operating frameworks for regional expansion.

Network Planning: Collaborate on real estate and store network strategies to ensure commercially viable and sustainable rollout decisions.

Investment Analysis: Conduct deep-dive financial modeling, competitive benchmarking, and investment analysis for new market launches.

Stakeholder Leadership: Act as the lead negotiator in senior-level commercial discussions and manage complex internal/external stakeholder relationships.

Regional Team Leadership: Build and mentor a growth-enablement team focused on partner success and pipeline velocity.

Performance Tracking: Monitor market performance and pipeline progress, providing regular strategic insights to the regional leadership team.

Requirements:

We are looking for a builder with 10+ years of experience in regional F&B or retail expansion. You should have a proven track record of navigating diverse regulatory landscapes and a deep network within the APAC property and franchise sectors. If you have successfully scaled global brands (e.g., QSR or premium coffee chains) and are ready to lead a regional turnaround in growth velocity, this is your next career-defining move.

10+ years of experience in regional franchise development, business expansion, or strategic partnerships within the F&B, Retail, or Hospitality sectors.

Proven success in delivering multi-market growth strategies across South East Asia, Greater China, and ANZ. Experience in emerging markets (e.g., Cambodia, Myanmar)

Strong financial and analytical capability, with experience developing complex business cases and investment appraisals.

Ability to balance high-level regional strategy with hands-on execution and partner management.

Excellent stakeholder management and a history of closing high-value commercial agreements.