Hortense LEBERT SOULIEZ

Head of Category & Product Activation @ INTERSPORT Group

About

Senior Category and Marketing Strategy leader with 12+ years of international experience across product development, portfolio strategy, brand activation, and program management (PMO) within global retail and sporting goods environments.I have led high-value portfolios up to 400M€, managed multicultural and cross-functional teams, and delivered profitable growth through strong assortment strategy, private label development, and go-to-market execution.My expertise spans category management, marketing activation, product lifecycle management, and international project governance, with a proven ability to translate consumer insights and market trends into clear business decisions.I thrive in matrix organizations, value collaboration and leadership, and enjoy building efficient structures that align strategy, execution, and performance.🔹 Core strengths: Category Strategy | Product & Portfolio Management | Marketing Activation | PMO | International Leadership

Country

France

City

Greater Lille Metropolitan Area

Industry

Retail

Skill

Advertising, Supply Chain Management, Brand Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Product Management, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Department Budget Management, Digital Marketing, Multimedia Marketing Campaigns, Product Launch, Établissement du budget, Marketing digital, Gestion du marketing, E-commerce, Commerce, Marketing produit, Compétences analytiques, Campagnes marketing, Stratégie de contenu, Lancement de produit

Experience

Head of Category & Product Activation

INTERSPORT Group

2022-6 - Present · 4 yrs 4 mos

Ville de Paris

Full responsibility for Category Management and Marketing Activation for the French market (350M€ turnover). • Leadership of a team with direct reports. Executed 360° marketing activation plans (retail, digital, trade marketing), generating +5 to +10% store traffic during peak periods. Increased in-store and digital brand visibility, leading to a +20% improvement in product exposure metrics. Supported major product launches with a 20 to 30% reduction in time-to-market. Led brand partnerships and Special Make-Up (SMU) developments. • Delivered commercial and strategic recommendations based on KPIs and market analysis. • Coordinated Marketing, Buying, Sales, and Supply Chain teams.

Head of Product & International PMO - Private Labels

INTERSPORT Group

2020-7 - 2022-6 · 2 yrs

Ville de Paris

Led Private Label product development and international PMO governance (300M€ PO scope). • Managed 25+ cross-functional stakeholders across multiple countries. • Oversaw end-to-end product lifecycle: market analysis, business cases, development, and launch. • Implemented project governance, timelines, prioritization, and risk management frameworks. • Improved execution efficiency and time-to-market.

Senior Product Manager / Head of Category - Intersport International

INTERSPORT Group

2019-6 - 2020-6 · 1 yr 1 mo

Bern, Canton de Berne, Suisse

• Managed international Footwear category (400M€ PO volume). • Led a team of 3. • Defined category vision, portfolio strategy, and performance KPIs. • Aligned global strategy with local market needs.

Senior Category Manager

INTERSPORT Group

2017-8 - 2019-5 · 1 yr 10 mos

Région de Paris, France

• Managed Footwear category for the French market (150M€ turnover). • Led a team of 2. • Improved category profitability through assortment and pricing optimization.

EMEA Head of products & sales (apparel & footwear)

Mizuno Corporation EMEA

2016-1 - 2017-8 · 1 yr 8 mos

Monaco di Baviera

• Managed Footwear portfolio across EMEA. • Defined product roadmaps aligned with brand positioning. • Collaborated with R&D, sourcing, marketing, and sales teams.