Managing Director

Overview

We are retained on behalf of an established UK subsidiary within the technical products/building products sector to appoint a new Managing Director.

This is a significant leadership opportunity for a commercially strong, operationally capable senior leader to take full responsibility for a well-established UK business with the backing of an international parent group. The company has an established market presence, a respected product offering, an experienced team, and a multi-channel route to market across the UK.

The successful candidate will lead the next phase of growth, with responsibility for commercial strategy, team leadership, operational performance, stakeholder management, and full P&L delivery.

The Business

The business is a long-standing UK operation with an established customer base, strong market presence, and a broad route to market across trade, distribution, specialist channels, and project-led customers.

It combines sales, commercial, operations, warehouse, technical, and back-office capability, providing a solid platform for growth. The company benefits from recurring aftermarket demand alongside core product sales, giving the business a balanced and resilient commercial model.

The Opportunity

This role will suit a senior leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

You will be given full responsibility for the UK business, with a mandate to drive profitable growth, sharpen commercial performance, strengthen internal capability, and further develop the subsidiary’s position within the wider group.

This is not a purely strategic board role. It requires someone with the leadership presence to inspire a team, the commercial ability to grow the business, and the operational grip to stay close to purchasing, stock, supply chain, and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the UK business, with accountability for P&L performance, budget delivery, and longer-term growth plans
• Define and deliver a clear commercial strategy aligned to both UK market opportunity and wider group objectives
• Lead, develop, and inspire the sales and commercial teams to drive revenue, margin, and customer performance
• Build a high-performance culture with clear accountability, structure, and focus across the organisation
• Work closely with internal commercial leadership on pricing, customer strategy, terms, and new business development
• Oversee operational performance across supply chain, purchasing, stockholding, and service delivery
• Manage supplier relationships and procurement activity to support product availability, margin, and working capital performance
• Act as the key link between the UK business and international group stakeholders, ensuring strong communication, reporting, and alignment
• Support capability development, succession planning, and long-term talent growth across the UK team
• Identify new market opportunities, channels, partnerships, and areas for commercial improvement

Candidate Profile

We are interested in speaking with proven senior leaders who have operated in positions such as Managing Director, General Manager, Commercial Director, Sales Director, or Divisional Director with meaningful P&L exposure.

The ideal candidate will bring experience from sectors such as:

• Building Materials, Construction, Interiors or KBB market.

You will be:

• commercially sharp and analytically strong
• confident in leading multi-functional teams
• comfortable operating in a matrix or international group structure
• experienced in driving growth through trade and distribution channels
• capable of balancing strategic leadership with operational detail
• credible with both senior stakeholders and frontline teams

Experience across routes to market, such as merchants, distributors, specialist trade partners, OEM or manufacturing relationships, and broader B2B channels, will be highly relevant.

What Success Looks Like

The incoming Managing Director will:

• create clear strategic direction for the UK business
• strengthen commercial execution and channel performance
• improve profitability and operational discipline
• build alignment across sales, operations, and finance
• enhance the UK subsidiary’s position and influence within the wider international group
• lead with energy, visibility, and accountability

Why This Role?

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and hands-on senior leader who enjoys ownership, pace, and visibility.

The foundations are already in place: established infrastructure, respected products, an experienced team, and strong market presence. The opportunity now is to sharpen execution, unlock growth, and lead the next phase of development.

For the right individual, this role offers genuine autonomy, impact, and the chance to make a visible difference within a well-supported international business.

Package:

Highly competitive

For more details, feel free to reach out.

T: 0161 327 4561 / 07946 126 863

E: Ed@asr-international.co.uk

W: www.asr-international.co.uk

ASR International specialises in Commercial, Operational and Sales-based roles throughout GB; our expertise lies with manufacturers and distributors within the bathroom, brassware, sanitaryware and interiors sectors for senior-level appointments and Directors.