Lead Distributor Growth Across APAC & the Middle East

Yello; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

Yello in Dubai seeks a senior regional distributor leader to drive performance across APAC and the Middle East. You will align distributor activity with the wider organisation, optimize product mix, and lead regional teams.

You will manage forecast accuracy, margins and regional P&L while building strong relationships with senior distributor partners and internal stakeholders. Regular travel across APAC and the Middle East is required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of commercial experience within FMCG or premium branded consumer goods.
• Direct distributor market management across APAC and the Middle East preferred; GCC experience including UAE or KSA for 5+ years.
• Proven ability to improve distributor performance through structured planning and accountability.
• Experience with regional P&L, forecasting and margin management.
• Commercial acumen balancing short-term delivery with long-term brand growth.
• Ability to translate local market needs into product, channel and commercial strategy.
• Comfort working across large international organisations and influencing without direct authority.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with senior partners and internal leadership.
• Entrepreneurial, resilient and adept at driving change across diverse markets.
• Willing to travel regularly across APAC and the Middle East.

Responsibilities

• Lead distributor performance across APAC and the Middle East against commercial objectives.
• Develop key distributor relationships across GCC, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other priority markets.
• Embed a unified market approach across the region and align distributor activity with the wider organisation.
• Review market needs and ensure appropriate product mix per country.
• Conduct regular business reviews, identify gaps and agree corrective actions.
• Drive sell-in, sell-out, forecasting and trade investment discipline with distributors.
• Serve as the main link between distributors and internal teams like Marketing, Supply Chain and Product.
• Lead and develop regional team including Area Sales Managers and market coordinators.
• Deliver regional sales, margin and distributor performance targets while protecting brand health.
• Provide market, customer and channel insights to support regional and global decisions.

Skills

Distributor management

FMCG experience

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Forecasting

P&L management

Negotiation

Cross-cultural leadership

Travel readiness

Job description

This business is a globally recognised consumer brand with a long standing heritage, strong international presence and a reputation for quality, creativity and trusted products. The business is continuing to strengthen how it operates across diverse international markets, creating an opportunity to join at an important stage of regional development.

• Lead distributor performance across APAC and the Middle East, ensuring partners deliver against agreed commercial objectives.
• Manage and develop key distributor relationships across the GCC, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other priority markets.
• Embed a consistent one face to market approach across the region, aligning distributor activity with the wider organisation.
• Review market needs and ensure each country is served with the right product mix.
• Run regular business reviews with distributors, identify performance gaps and agree corrective actions.
• Drive stronger sell in, sell out, forecasting and trade investment discipline across the distributor network.
• Operate as the key link between distributors and internal teams including Marketing, Supply Chain and Product.
• Lead and develop the regional team, including Area Sales Managers and market coordinators.
• Deliver regional sales, margin and distributor performance targets while protecting long-term brand health.
• Provide clear market, customer and channel insight to support regional and global decision-making.

• 10+ years of commercial experience within FMCG or premium branded consumer goods.
• Strong preference for candidates who have directly managed distributor markets across both APAC and the Middle East; at least extensive GCC distributor management experience including UAE or KSA for atleast 5 years.
• Demonstrated ability to improve distributor performance through structured business planning, commercial reviews and clear accountability.
• Experience with a regional P&L with strong financial, forecasting and margin management capability.
• Commercially minded and able to balance short-term delivery with long-term market and brand development.
• Skilled at understanding local market needs and translating them into the right product, channel and commercial approach.
• Confident working across complex international organisations and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong communicator and negotiator who can build credible relationships with senior distributor partners and internal leadership.
• Entrepreneurial, resilient and comfortable driving change across diverse cultures and markets.
• Willing and able to travel regularly across APAC and the Middle East.