Managing Director
Salary: £130,000 + £9,500 Car Allowance
Location: South West (UK)

We are partnering with a long-established, highly respected UK trading and distribution business to appoint a Managing Director to lead its South West operation.

With over 50 years of trading heritage, the business has built a strong reputation for service excellence, product consistency, and deep-rooted customer and supplier relationships. As part of a wider group structure, the organisation is now seeking a commercially astute and operationally rigorous leader to bring clarity, alignment, and disciplined execution to a well-established regional business unit.

This is a pivotal leadership role offering significant autonomy, alongside the support and scale of a broader group network.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Group Managing Director, the successful candidate will take full ownership of regional performance, leading both the strategic direction and operational delivery of the business.

This role requires a balanced leader—someone equally comfortable setting vision at board level and engaging closely with day-to-day operations to drive measurable improvements.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and deliver a clear regional strategy aligned with wider group objectives
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable, measurable plans across all functions
• Provide visible, decisive leadership that fosters accountability and high performance
• Act as the senior representative for the region, internally and externally

Operational Excellence

• Oversee end-to-end operations including warehouse, logistics, supply chain, finance, and commercial functions
• Identify inefficiencies and implement structured, sustainable improvements
• Modernise systems, processes, and workflows to enhance productivity and transparency
• Ensure operational capability is aligned with commercial growth ambitions

Commercial & Financial Performance

• Hold full P&L accountability for the regional business
• Drive revenue growth alongside disciplined margin and cost management
• Establish and embed robust KPI frameworks and performance rhythms
• Monitor performance closely and take decisive corrective action where required

Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Introduce scalable processes and reporting structures to support future growth
• Improve organisational alignment by removing cross-functional barriers
• Embed a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and disciplined execution

Leadership & Organisational Alignment

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing senior leadership team
• Create clarity around roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Foster collaboration across departments and strengthen leadership capability
• Drive a culture of ownership, professionalism, and accountability

Candidate Profile

We are seeking a proven senior leader with a strong track record of delivering results in operationally intensive environments.

Key experience and attributes include:

• Previous experience in a Managing Director, General Manager, or equivalent senior leadership role
• Full P&L ownership within trading, distribution, FMCG, food, or similar sectors
• Demonstrated success in improving operational performance and modernising business processes
• Strong commercial acumen with disciplined financial management capability
• Experience operating within a group structure while leading a standalone business unit
• Ability to create clarity of direction and align teams behind shared objectives
• A pragmatic, structured, and execution-focused leadership style
• Credibility and presence to influence at board and senior stakeholder level

Why Apply?

This is a rare opportunity to lead a well-established and respected regional business with genuine autonomy, while benefiting from the backing of a larger group.

The role offers the platform to shape strategy, strengthen operations, and deliver long-term, sustainable growth—making a tangible impact on both the business and its people.

Further details will be shared with shortlisted candidates on a confidential basis.