Job Description

AKIRA Chief Marketing Officer

In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 30+ stores across the United States, as well as a thriving eCommerce business (shopAKIRA.com.) AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand.

AKIRA’s culture has one very large, distinct difference from other fast-fashion competitors: Other-Worldly Customer Service and Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer’s needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner , and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company.

The Position

Chief Marketing Officer

Location

Chicago, IL (On-site)

Position Overview:

This is not a role for traditional marketers or consensus-seekers. We need a transformational CMO with both proven vision and flawless execution—someone who has personally architected a fashion brand’s meteoric rise. You’ll sit at the leadership table as a true peer, driving AKIRA’s evolution into a household name through omnichannel dominance.

What It Takes:

Brand Vision & Leadership

• Develop and drive a clear, audacious vision for AKIRA’s national expansion—maintaining our bold identity while creating mainstream magnetism
• Command respect with a definitive point of view and the backbone to defend it—you’re respected, not necessarily universally liked
• Function as a true executive leader, not just a marketing tactician—your voice shapes company direction
• Craft distinctive competitive positioning that differentiates AKIRA from established national brands

Omnichannel Excellence

• Architect seamless customer experiences that drive both explosive e-commerce growth and thriving retail expansion
• Demonstrate mastery of the digital-to-physical customer journey similar to how Reformation’s Yael Aflalo unified digital buzz with compelling store experiences
• Leverage AI and emerging technologies to create competitive advantages in personalization, trend forecasting, and operational efficiency
• Collaborate closely with merchandising, product, and operations to ensure brand consistency at every customer touchpoint

Digital Dominance

• Own the entire digital marketing ecosystem with the intuitive understanding of what creates viral moments
• Navigate social platforms like TikTok with the fluency and cultural intelligence of Depop’s Peter Semple
• Build authentic influencer relationships that transcend transactional partnerships—creating a cultural movement, not just content
• Architect and implement a sophisticated marketing technology stack that scales with our ambitions

Growth Execution

• Demonstrate a bias toward action with the calculated risk-taking approach that defined Away’s Jen Rubio
• Deliver measurable results through sophisticated performance marketing strategies
• Balance creative ambition with analytical discipline—your decisions are data-informed but visionary-led
• Own P&L responsibility for marketing, optimizing budget allocation to maximize ROI across channels
• Drive customer acquisition while building retention programs that foster long-term loyalty

Market & Customer Intelligence

• Establish voice-of-customer programs and customer research initiatives that inform product and marketing strategy
• Develop sophisticated segmentation models that power personalized marketing at scale
• Monitor competitive landscape continuously, adapting strategies to maintain AKIRA’s distinctive positioning
• Create an innovation pipeline that keeps AKIRA at the forefront of fashion marketing trends

Communication & Reputation

• Oversee PR strategy, media relations, and external communications to amplify brand awareness
• Develop crisis management protocols that protect brand reputation
• Articulate AKIRA’s values, including sustainability initiatives, as integral elements of brand storytelling
• Build relationships with fashion media, industry influencers, and potential strategic partners

Team Leadership

• Attract, develop, and retain world-class marketing talent across specialties
• Create a high-performance culture balanced with mentorship and professional development
• Foster cross-functional collaboration that breaks down traditional marketing silos
• Establish centers of excellence in key marketing disciplines that drive the organization forward

What You Bring:

• Proven Transformation Experience: You’ve personally led a fashion or retail brand through explosive national growth with tangible results.
• Digital + Physical Fluency: Deep expertise across e-commerce and physical retail—not just theory, but hands-on success.
• Leadership Presence: You operate as a true member of the leadership team, pushing the business forward with conviction and vision.
• Cultural Intelligence: You intuitively understand what’s driving fashion culture now and what will drive it next.
• Execution Mindset: Your playbook isn’t theoretical—it’s built on victories you’ve personally engineered and can replicate.
• Strategic Vision: You see around corners, anticipating market shifts before competitors
• Global Perspective: Experience that will eventually support international expansion ambitions.
• Financial Acumen: Sophisticated understanding of marketing economics, CAC, LTV, and growth modeling.
• 10+ Years: Senior marketing leadership in fashion, consumer brands, or retail with progressive responsibility.

The Opportunity:

• Direct partnership with the leadership team to architect AKIRA’s national expansion
• Autonomy to build and execute your vision with meaningful resources
• Competitive compensation reflecting true executive partnership, including equity
• The platform to create your legacy by transforming an emerging brand into a national powerhouse

This role is for marketing leaders who don’t just want to contribute to a brand’s story—but to author it entirely. If you’ve got the track record, vision and backbone to drive transformational growth, AKIRA is your canvas.

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