Ecommerce Manager Interview Question:

Explain me should the head of e-commerce report directly to the c-suite?

Submitted by: Muhammad

There is no one correct answer, but before beginning the search, it is important to consider how reporting lines will impact the qualified candidates' perception of both the role and the organization's commitment to the e-commerce initiative. Two likely expectations of candidates will be that P&L responsibility for e-commerce will come with the job and that the position will report directly to the CEO or president. Without these two conditions in place, it's possible that some high-caliber candidates may opt out of the process.
This isn't about ego on their part; having the e-commerce leader report directly into the same level of command as the head of retail and merchandising sends a clear message that the development of e-commerce is a company priority and that the candidate will be the business owner. This type of reporting ensures that the e-commerce leader will be directly involved in executive conversations and planning sessions that drive the direction of the company. It also indicates that e-commerce is a priority for the CEO and the board and broadcasts a message throughout the organization that the leadership team is embracing the channel. This is not to say this model is right for all organizations, but companies should give serious consideration to organizational structure in order to attract the right level of experienced leader. Another way to reassure candidates about the company's commitment is to establish an on-call board member who can provide reassurance and answer questions about the e-commerce strategy during the final recruitment stages.
Submitted by: Muhammad