Managing Director

The Opportunity:

Our client is a leading packaging company supplying into the food and FMCG sectors. The business is recognised for its technical capability, quality and service and is now entering a new phase of development under active, growth-oriented ownership.

This appointment represents a genuine opportunity to lead and shape a manufacturing business with a clear mandate to deliver significant, profitable growth over the next 3–4 years. The Managing Director will have full accountability, strong board backing and the freedom to run the business end-to-end.

The Role:

The Managing Director will take overall responsibility for setting direction, leading the senior leadership team and delivering sustainable improvements in commercial and operational performance.

This is a hands-on leadership role, suited to someone who enjoys being close to the operation, engaged with customers and confident managing the financial performance of the business.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Setting and owning a clear, practical business plan aligned to agreed growth objectives
• Leading and developing a multi-functional leadership team with clear priorities and accountability
• Providing clear, timely reporting and recommendations to the board
• Making well-judged, data-led decisions that balance short-term delivery with long-term value

Financial and Operational Performance

You will have full accountability for the financial health and day-to-day performance of the business, ensuring strong control alongside continuous improvement.

This will involve:

• Full P&L, cashflow and KPI ownership
• Leading annual budgeting, forecasting and medium-term planning
• Driving margin improvement and efficiency without compromising quality, service or safety
• Establishing a simple, disciplined performance management rhythm with no surprises

Operations, Service and Continuous Improvement:

Ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operations will be central to success in the role.

Key priorities will include:

• Maintaining high standards of safety, compliance and right-first-time performance
• Improving productivity, asset utilisation, yield and waste
• Aligning capacity and service levels with commercial commitments
• Embedding a practical, continuous improvement mindset across the site

Customers, Markets and Innovation

The Managing Director will play a visible role in strengthening customer relationships and shaping the business’s commercial focus.

Responsibilities will include:

• Working closely with the commercial leadership to align sales and operational priorities
• Direct engagement with key customers where MD involvement adds value
• Staying close to market, regulatory and sustainability developments
• Ensuring pricing, product mix and service decisions support long-term profitable relationships
• Ensuring investment in R&D and innovation is supported by robust business cases and clear routes to market

People, Leadership and Culture

Building a strong leadership team and the right culture will be critical to delivering growth.

You will be expected to:

• Build and maintain a capable, accountable leadership team
• Set a culture of transparency, integrity and delivery
• Address issues constructively and promptly
• Develop key individuals and plan succession in critical roles

Group Contribution

The role includes active engagement with the wider group and board to support strategic alignment and future investment.

This will involve:

• Clear, straightforward communication with the board
• Sharing insight and best practice to inform group-level decisions
• Identifying opportunities that strengthen the business’s position within the wider group

What Success Looks Like:

Within the first 12–24 months, the successful candidate will have:

• Delivered measurable improvements in revenue, margin and service performance
• Established a clear and credible 3–4 year growth plan
• Built a cohesive, accountable leadership team
• Improved financial and operational visibility with predictable outcomes
• Delivered early wins in efficiency, waste or yield
• Established a strong, trust-based relationship with the board

Candidate Profile:

Background

• Proven experience leading a manufacturing business, ideally within packaging, print or a related process industry
• Experience as Managing Director, General Manager or Site Director with full P&L responsibility
• Exposure to food or FMCG supply chains is highly advantageous
• Experience leading growth or change under active ownership is desirable

Skills and attributes

• Commercially astute with strong financial literacy
• Clear, confident people leader with an adult, accountable leadership style
• Comfortable making data-led decisions using sound judgement
• Practical and visible, with credibility on the shopfloor
• Calm, resilient and focused on what truly drives performance
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, owner-led environment

Location and Travel:

Due to the highly confidential nature of the vacancy the exact location will be revealed to any candidate who matches the client’s criteria.
We are well aware many MD level candidates are used to relocation.