Interim Chief Logistics Officer (Peak Trading Transformation)

Northern Finland | Global remit
£Six-figure package + incentives, relocation, carbon-neutral travel & unparalleled goodwill

An outstanding opportunity to join a uniquely scaled, vertically integrated global logistics platform with unparalleled brand penetration and a delivery footprint spanning every developed and developing market.

Operating for several centuries, the organisation holds a structurally protected monopoly within its category. Growth remains resilient and predictable, driven by demographic expansion, strong repeat engagement and an exceptionally loyal multi-generational customer base.

Despite an operating window compressed into a single annual trading cycle, the organisation has achieved a 100% on-time, in-full delivery record since inception, a performance metric widely regarded as unrepeatable by peers.

The company’s vertically integrated manufacturing and logistics operation is co-located within a highly secure Northern European facility. All products are manufactured exclusively in-house by a sister division and distributed globally via proprietary logistics systems that are widely regarded as the most sophisticated, and closely guarded, in the sector.

Following continued scale and complexity, including the recent onboarding of its two-billionth customer, the organisation now seeks to appoint an Interim Chief Logistics Officer to lead its peak trading transformation.

Role Overview

Reporting directly to the Founder, Owner and Global Figurehead, the Interim CLO will assume full P&L-level accountability for global logistics, manufacturing interface and end-to-end delivery execution during the organisation’s most value-critical period.

This role sits at the intersection of strategy, operations and belief, possessing genuine scale, complexity and visibility.

Key impact areas include:

  • Full accountability for the end-to-end process from product conception through manufacture, distribution and final-mile delivery, all to be completed within a single night-time operating cycle.
  • Executive ownership of the relationship with the manufacturing division and its exceptionally large, highly specialised workforce, ensuring productivity, morale and output remain world-class under extreme seasonal pressure.
  • Absolute responsibility for global supply chain performance, inventory accuracy and on-time, in-full delivery, with zero tolerance for slippage.
  • Assurance that all goods are delivered discreetly, sustainably and before sunrise, in line with budget and long-established service level expectations.
  • Optimisation of working capital while maintaining extraordinary customer satisfaction across multiple generations and geographies.
  • Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders including the owner, the Board and a small but influential group of elite, diminutive workflow planners.
  • Production and presentation of board-level reporting suitable for an organisation that has become the operational benchmark for the entire global logistics industry.
  • Providing visible, hands-on leadership to operations teams, fostering a high-performance culture underpinned by resilience, cheerfulness and the spontaneous singing of seasonal songs.

Key Risks & Mitigations

As with any transformation-scale logistics role, the following risks have been identified:

  • Extreme weather volatility
    Mitigation: Scenario planning, route redundancy and increased wool-based insulation.
  • Airspace congestion and regulatory scrutiny
    Mitigation: Proven low-visibility entry methods and long-standing informal agreements.
  • Peak-load pressure on animal-powered transport assets
    Mitigation: Proactive capacity planning and stabilisation of reindeer throughput.
  • Belief erosion in certain markets
    Mitigation: Strong leadership presence, clear communication and consistent magic delivery.

Core Project Milestones

  • Rapid immersion into current operating model and overnight delivery architecture
  • Stakeholder alignment with Founder, Board and senior elves
  • Baseline assessment of reindeer utilisation, sleigh readiness and stocking density
  • Optimise routing logic and chimney-access sequencing
  • Stabilise reindeer throughput and enhance rest-to-flight ratios
  • Embed performance dashboards and singing cadence
  • Full operational readiness review
  • Final dress rehearsal under live conditions
  • Go-live execution and flawless global delivery

Candidate Profile

You will be a proven senior operations or supply chain leader with experience operating at scale in a genuinely global environment. Experience of peak-driven, time-critical delivery models is essential, as is the ability to remain calm, authoritative and faintly magical under pressure.

You will be equally comfortable developing strategy at board level and rolling your sleeves up on the warehouse floor when required, particularly if striped tights are involved.

Experience with younger end-users, non-negotiable deadlines and stakeholder groups with absolute faith in delivery outcomes will be viewed favourably.

Finnish language capability is advantageous but not required.

Above all, you will demonstrate:

  • A track record of delivering against impossible deadlines
  • Exceptional management skills, including with mythic stakeholders
  • Strong communication ability, particularly in song
  • Advanced product wrapping capability
  • A natural inclination towards joy, optimism and belief

Person Specification

  • Degree-educated or equivalent executive experience
  • 3+ years in a senior logistics or operations leadership role
  • A resolutely can-do mindset
  • Willingness to wear a pointy hat and lead from the front
  • Proficiency in all known Christmas carols (harmonisation desirable)
  • Unequivocal belief in Father Christmas

This is a rare opportunity to join an already legendary organisation at its most critical moment and ensure its continued, flawless execution.

For a confidential conversation, please contact: gary@garychaplin.com