‘SALES DRIVEN’ CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

SUMMARY:
LARGE INDUSTRIAL IMPORTER, DISTRIBUTOR & SALES COMPANY (WITH MULTIPLE BRANCHES AROUND SA)

POSITION INFO:

Join very large and successful Subsidiary of a JSE listed Group that is a leading distributor and seller of a diverse and multi-faceted range of industrial products and consumables to the end-user via multiple Branches around South Africa as well as via Distributors into the SADC region. This is a complex business which is driven by specialised Managers who form the nucleas of this profitable entity. In addition, there is an Engineering and Field Services Division which offers world class solutions including training for their large, medium and small industrial customers’ machinery and plant. The Company recently launched a new e-commerce platform to drive sales and growth and is further expanding their Branch network in key areas.

The overall function of the CEO role is to meet and exceed performance targets set by the CEO in conjunction with the Corporate Executive Director to whom this candidate will report to, noting that the culture of the Holding Company is decentralised. This means that the Chief Executive will primarily be responsible for running all facets of the business whilst complying with the Group’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Governance. The culture of the business includes having clear strategies, where the employees support each other but are accountable and consist of an entrepreneurial spirit where the focus is on ‘delivery’.

Key performance areas, inter alia, include:

• Mentoring, motivating and guiding a Management Team consisting of 2 Regional Sales Managers (Inland & Coastal), General Manager whose area of focus is on Branch Management as well as End-User Segments, OEM’s and Exports, 4 Business Unit Managers for the 4 major category product range as well as a Back Office consisting of a Cluster Financial Director, Supply Chain Director, HR Manager and Business Systems Manager. It needs to be outlined that there is a specialised Procurement Team as most of the industrial products are imported and sourced from China, Japan, Europe and India.
• Drive business growth and strategy targets including strategic direction for the Management Team and overall portfolio, develop annual business strategies and review 3 year business strategy, develop solid export strategy for growth into identified markets, nurture key suppliers and their relationships, supplier contract negotiation and visits. Target and review suitable acquisitions.
• Financial responsibilities include meeting and exceeding financial targets for net profit and for prescribed gross profit margin, rigorously manage operating expenses, monthly management analysis and reviews, strictly control working capital and ensure maximum return on investment.
• Sales & marketing including strategies within each respective target (category) market, work closely with the Sales Department to drive turnover and business development, ensure the continuous running of targeted campaigns to increase market share, ongoing review of pricing and pricing strategy which includes competitor analysis, develop & monitor customer satisfaction focusing on customer retention and finding new customers.
• Drive operational efficiency including the strict management of stock levels and obsolete stock including stock turn, facilitate productivity and efficiency, ensure productive supply chain that optimises working capital and minimises risks like shrinkage, outsourcing, logistics. Ensure the necessary Health and Safety as well as ISO and other relevant standards are complied to.
• Human resources including overseeing long-term succession plan, appropriate EE and BBBEE plan, corporate social responsibility programme as well as ensuring HR policies are in place.
• Ensure IT compliance and that a suitable disaster recovery plan is in place and the relevant compliance is adhered to.

Requirements:

• Engineering qualification which can be mechanical, electrical or industrial plus ideally a post-grad business diploma or similar.
• The successful candidate must come from a high paced, large and complex business environment and have proven general management experience with full responsibility for the “bottom line”. Ideally, experience should also include a business whose target market are end-user segments and preferably mining, manufacturing and agriculture. An understanding of a wholesale and retail model would be helpful as well as experience in the industrial (electrical and mechanical) consumer business.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, excellent negotiator and able to manage complex contracts, high energy and drive, excellent leadership and communication skills as well as an innate sales flair and able to earn respect.

Apply on-line or alternatively phone Gerald Lilian on (011) 4841790.

Be advised that if you do not receive a response within two weeks from date of submission of your CV, then please deem your application as unsuccessful.

NB! This job is now closed. You can apply for other jobs by uploading your CV.