Interim Chief Revenue Officer / Commercial Transformation Lead

WITHHELD; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic commercial organization in the UK is searching for an Interim Chief Revenue Officer to lead a transformation of their commercial operating model. This role requires a seasoned leader with a background in events, travel, hospitality, or media, who can drive change while ensuring revenue performance. The successful candidate will establish an AI-driven, scalable commercial function and improve team capabilities for sustainable growth. Regular presence in the London office is expected, with a flexible remote working approach.

Qualifications

• Experienced in senior commercial leadership roles like CRO or CCO.
• Background in relationship-driven environments like events, travel, or media.
• Demonstrated success in commercial transformations beyond just revenue.

Responsibilities

• Transform the commercial operating model for better revenue generation.
• Lead and redesign the current commercial team structure.
• Implement technology and AI improvements for operational efficiency.

Skills

Commercial leadership experience

Segmentation and forecasting proficiency

Experience with CRM systems

Comfortable leading through change

Technology-enabled commercial transformation

Job description

Interim Chief Revenue Officer / Commercial Transformation Lead

Contract: Fixed-term (9–12 months)
Location: Flexible (with regular on-site presence in the London office as required for leadership and change delivery)
Reports to: Chief Executive

Role Purpose

This is a senior interim leadership role focused on transforming a commercial operating model with clear authority to assess, reset and strengthen the commercial organisation.

The business operates in a relationship-led commercial environment typical of events, travel, hospitality, or media, and requires an experienced commercial leader to reset how revenue is generated, forecast and scaled.

The role must be led with a technology and AI-first mindset - using systems, data and automation to replace personality-led selling, improve visibility and build a scalable, insight-driven commercial engine.

This role suits a transformation-oriented CRO or CCO who is comfortable delivering change at pace while continuing to drive trading performance.

Why This Role Exists

The business operates at mid-scale with high commercial complexity, requiring a hands-on, systems-led leader rather than a purely corporate operator.

The current commercial model has evolved organically and is no longer fit for the next stage of growth. While there is strong talent and deep client relationships, the operating system lacks:

• Clear structure and segmentation
• Consistent forecasting and performance visibility
• Scalable, tech-enabled processes and governance
• A unified commercial rhythm across teams

The organisation is open to different routes to achieve this transformation, but the outcome is fixed: a modern, data-led, AI-enabled commercial function that can scale sustainably.

Key Objectives (12-Month Horizon)

By the end of the engagement, the successful candidate will have:

• Designed and embedded a clear, scalable commercial operating model
• Established robust forecasting, pipeline management and CRM discipline
• Introduced technology and AI-enabled ways of working to improve efficiency and insight
• Improved commercial leadership capability and accountability
• Stabilised and grown core revenue streams
• Created a handover-ready model that can be owned by permanent leadership

Key Responsibilities

1. Commercial Operating Model Redesign

• Assess the current sales and revenue structure
• Redesign roles, segmentation, territories and ownership
• Clarify decision rights, accountabilities and interfaces

2. Commercial Team Assessment & Reset

• Assess the capability, structure and ways of working of the current commercial team
• Clarify roles, expectations and performance standards
• Coach and develop leaders and managers to operate effectively within the new operating model
• Address capability gaps through development, role redesign, or structural change as required

3. Revenue Strategy & Execution

• Lead revenue planning across core products and portfolios
• Balance short-term trading performance with long-term system build
• Improve retention, expansion and new business performance

4. Forecasting, Cadence & CRM Discipline

• Implement a clear weekly/monthly commercial rhythm
• Own forecasting accuracy and performance visibility
• Embed CRM as a single source of truth

5. Technology & AI Enablement

• Introduce technology-led improvements to sales process, reporting and insight
• Use automation and AI tools to reduce manual effort and improve decision-making
• Shift the team from intuition-led to data and insight‑led selling

6. Leadership & Capability Building

• Act as a hands‑on leader to the commercial team
• Coach senior managers to lead with data, insight and clarity
• Raise standards around accountability and performance

7. Change & Stakeholder Management

• Lead change calmly and decisively in a complex, relationship‑driven environment
• Work closely with executive leadership and cross‑functional teams
• Build trust while challenging legacy behaviours and constraints

8. Sustainability & Handover

• Document the commercial playbook and operating rhythm
• Ensure systems, processes and leadership capability are embedded
• Prepare the organisation for a smooth transition to permanent ownership

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience

• Senior commercial leadership experience (CRO, CCO, VP Sales, or equivalent)
• Background in events, travel, hospitality or media
• Proven track record of commercial transformation, not just revenue delivery
• Strong capability in segmentation, forecasting and CRM‑led sales models
• Experience leading technology‑enabled or AI‑supported commercial change
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and leading through change

Personal Attributes

• Gravitas and credibility at executive level
• Structured, analytical and commercially sharp
• Calm, decisive and resilient under pressure
• Able to challenge constructively and bring people with them
• Outcome‑focused with a strong sense of pace

What This Role Is — and Is Not

This role is:

• A hands‑on transformation mandate
• Technology and AI‑first in approach
• Focused on building systems, capability and clarity
• Designed to leave the organisation materially stronger

This role is not:

• A caretaker or purely trading role
• A long‑term “career move”
• A light‑touch advisory position
• Not suited to leaders who rely on scale and layers to deliver