VP Group Strategy and Corporate Development

Collinson is the global, privately-owned company dedicated to helping the world to travel with ease and confidence. The group offers a unique blend of industry and sector specialists who together provide market-leading airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance solutions for over 400 million consumers. Collinson is the operator of Priority Pass, the world's original and leading airport experiences programme. Travellers can access a network of 1,500+ lounges and travel experiences, including dining, retail, sleep and spa, in over 650 airports in 148 countries, helping to elevate the journey into something special. We work with the world's leading payment networks, over 1,400 banks, 90 airlines and 20 hotel groups worldwide. We have been bringing innovation to the market since inception – from launching the first independent global VIP lounge access Programme, Priority Pass to being the first to sell direct travel insurance in the UK through Columbus Direct and creating the first loyalty agency of its kind in the travel sector with ICLP. Today we still invest heavily in innovation to ensure that we continue to deliver superior customer experiences. Key clients include Mastercard, American Express, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, LATAM, Flying Blue, Accor, EasyJet, HSBC, Chase, HDFC. Our mission is focused on doing good beyond profit, which for us means we seek out opportunities for our people to share in our success and that we give back to the communities and people within which we work. Never short of ambition, the success of our business is delivered through the diverse and talented team of over 2,200 global colleagues. Purpose of the role Support the SVP, Group Strategy and Corporate Development in shaping and delivering Group-wide corporate strategy. The role will play an active part in the business planning cycle, help build a pipeline of investment opportunities, support the day-to-day delivery of M&A activity, and lead strategic projects across the Group. Key responsibilities Lead end-to-end M&A processes, including negotiations, coordination with internal and external stakeholders, due diligence, and reporting. Lead financial analysis, risk assessment, and valuation modelling for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, and use this analysis to make clear strategic recommendations. Coordinate input from advisers and colleagues across the business to support M&A projects. Support Group strategy development through financial analysis, strategic analysis, market research, competitor research, and the preparation of high-quality reporting materials. Prepare clear and concise Board and senior management papers and presentations on strategic activity. Analyse market trends, competitor activity, and industry developments to inform strategic decision-making. Define key performance indicators to measure the success of strategic initiatives and M&A activity. Key skills Strong problem-solving skills. Intellectual flexibility and creativity. Excellent project and change management skills, especially across M&A processes. Advanced Excel modelling and company valuation modelling skills. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Strong presentation skills and confidence working with Board and senior leaders. Excellent attention to detail. Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage competing priorities. Positive, proactive approach. Potential and interest to grow into a broader operational leadership role. Experience A degree in finance, business, or a related subject is preferred, ideally at 2:1 or above. The successful candidate will typically have 10+ years of post-qualification experience from a strategy consulting firm or a corporate strategy role in a fast-paced business environment. Experience in the travel sector and in a global business would be an advantage. The ideal candidate will have worked closely with senior leaders in a sensitive, collaborative environment to shape strategic direction. They will have experience of investment modelling, synergy modelling, developing investment cases, managing M&A due diligence, and presenting findings clearly. Experience drafting long-form Board papers is important. The candidate should be able to communicate clearly and confidently, build strong internal networks, and produce regular reports that are easy to understand, engaging, and persuasive. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, along with the ability to turn complex data into practical insight. Knowledge of international business practices and global market trends is also important. Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including: colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, family status, age, individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our on-going success. We are focused on continually evolving our purpose driven, high performing culture, providing an environment where our people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and do interesting and meaningful work. Our company values are: Take Action, Do the right thing, One team and Be insight led. These help guide everything we do internally in terms of how we think, act and interact, right through to how we deliver value to our customers and clients.