A handpicked digital heavyweight for L Catterton

L Catterton appointed Tracy Barwin, an exceptional digital leader with 15+ years of experience across brands like Nike, Uniqlo, Hunter Boots and Monsoon Accessorize.

The challenge

When L Catterton, the world’s leading consumer-focused private equity firm (backed by LVMH and managing over $35bn in assets), needed a digital leader for a critical maternity cover, they approached us.

This wasn’t just about bridging a gap—it was about finding someone who could lead and deliver from day one. The role covered eCommerce, CRM, Loyalty, UX, Conversion, Product, and Merchandising across L Catterton’s European consumer investments in fashion, retail and hospitality. The right candidate needed to command credibility with senior leadership, drive measurable performance improvements, and be willing to get hands-on when needed.

Timing was key. The role was 3–4 days per week, needed to be filled within a month, and ideally suited to someone based in the UK or Europe.

Our approach

When a brief like this lands, it’s rarely about starting from scratch. It’s about pinpointing the right fit quickly and instinctively.

We’ve built a trusted, highly curated network of +25,000 digital leaders. But fit is about more than just skills and experience. We look beyond the CV to emotional intelligence, leadership style and cultural alignment—all the things that can’t be measured on paper but make the biggest difference in the right role.

For L Catterton, we focused on speaking to leaders who could:

• Engage at a senior level, working closely with investors and executive teams.
• Balance strategy with execution, driving performance while remaining operationally hands-on.
• Make an impact quickly, stepping seamlessly into a fast-paced portfolio environment.

Within four weeks, we delivered a highly targeted shortlist of four outstanding candidates, each personally assessed, referenced and ready to hit the ground running.

The result

L Catterton appointed Tracy Barwin, an exceptional digital leader with 15+ years of experience across brands like Nike, Uniqlo, Hunter Boots and Monsoon Accessorize.

Her blend of strategic vision, eCommerce expertise, and private equity-backed business experience made her an ideal fit. From day one, she:

• Set clear KPIs to maintain continuity and momentum.
• Led CRM & eCommerce initiatives across multiple brands.
• Drove digital performance improvements from the outset.

Tracy made such an impact that, even after the Head of Digital returned, L Catterton asked her to stay on in an extended role—a testament to both her capabilities and the value she delivered.

 

A great match

There’s no ‘off the shelf’ formula for this kind of placement. It’s about understanding the business, knowing the right people, and making a match that works from day one.

The magic happens when you find the right leader with the right mindset, who fits seamlessly into a company’s culture and challenges. That’s where our strength lies—the subtlety of knowing when someone is the perfect fit, even before they step through the door.

We’re delighted to see Tracy’s impact continuing to grow, and we’re proud to have played a part in making it happen.