Director Corporate Development - Digital and Agentic Commerce

About the Role

This newly created role will drive HARMAN's corporate development and strategic investment activities in the Consumer Electronics industry, with a strong focus on Agentic Commerce, E-commerce platforms, and AI-driven commercial strategies.

The position is intended for a senior professional with deep experience in digital platform business models and agentic AI systems, including autonomous commerce agents, personalization and recommendation engines, conversational commerce, and data-driven monetization models. You will identify, evaluate, and shape M&A, partnership, and venture investment opportunities that accelerate HARMAN's transition toward AI-enabled, customer-centric digital commerce capabilities.

A core responsibility is to build and maintain a strong external network across relevant digital retailers, consumer technology companies, AI-native startups, platform providers, venture capital firms, and strategic partners, particularly within global e-commerce and agentic AI ecosystems.

You will develop an outside-in perspective on platform economics, flywheel effects, and customer experience innovation, translating these insights into clear strategic and financial recommendations. Close collaboration with Commercial, Digital, Product, Data, and Technology teams is essential to evaluate build / buy / partner decisions and ensure alignment with HARMAN's commercial and digital growth priorities.

This role is particularly well suited for candidates with experience in large digital platforms or global e-commerce environments (e.g., Amazon or similar) who operate comfortably at the intersection of technology, product, and commercial strategy.

• Continuously monitor and assess trends in consumer electronics, digital commerce, agentic AI, retail media, and platform-based business models.
• Track strategies of global consumer electronics brands, digital retailers, marketplaces, startups, hyperscalers, and AI-native companies.
• Develop and present regular insights and reports to senior leadership on market dynamics, competitive positioning, and implications for HARMAN's corporate development agenda.

• Define and shape HARMAN's inorganic growth agenda in Consumer Electronics and digital commerce, spanning M&A, strategic partnerships, and venture investments.
• Develop clear investment theses and target company lists aligned with HARMAN's commercial, brand, and digital strategy.
• Evaluate build vs. buy vs. partner options in collaboration with business, product, and technology leadership.

• Build and manage a robust pipeline of acquisition, partnership, and investment opportunities.
• Lead deal teams through initial screening, valuation, due diligence, deal structuring, and negotiation.
• Prepare and present high-quality decision materials and recommendations for executive leadership and investment committees.

• Partner closely with senior leadership across Consumer, Lifestyle, Digital, Product, and Technology organizations.
• Serve as a visible external representative of HARMAN with a strong network across digital retailers, consumer tech companies, venture capital firms, and investment banks.
• Lead and facilitate workshops and strategic discussions with internal and external stakeholders.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Economics, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience in corporate development, venture capital, private equity, investment banking, or strategy consulting
• Proven track record in M&A, partnerships, and venture investments within consumer technology or digital business models
• Strong understanding of consumer electronics markets and digital commercial strategies, including:
  • E-commerce and marketplace platforms
  • Digital retail ecosystems and omnichannel strategies
  • Agentic commerce and AI-driven customer interaction models
  • Subscription, platform, and data-driven business models
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in global, cross-functional matrix organizations
• Established network within consumer…