Key Account Manager, New Business - London

asahiceeur; Chiswick; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Asahi Europe and International is seeking a proactive Key Account Manager, New Business to strengthen strategic relationships with Managed Retail Groups and regional customers. You will drive joint business planning, distribution growth and profitable execution across the London area.

You will lead customer plans, collaborate with route-to-market partners and internal teams, and use data to forecast, plan and optimize investments.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Commercial awareness and interest in sales, negotiation and growth.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with a range of stakeholders.
• Strong planning, organisation and prioritisation skills.
• Comfortable using data and insights to support decision-making.
• Self-motivated, resilient and proactive in approach.
• Experience in sales, account management, hospitality, retail or another customer-facing role.
• Experience managing customer relationships or business partnerships.
• Experience working towards commercial targets or performance objectives.
• Knowledge of the drinks, FMCG, hospitality or wholesale sectors.
• Experience presenting, negotiating or influencing stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver Joint Business Plans with key customers to achieve volume, distribution and profitability objectives.
• Build strong customer relationships that drive retention, growth and long-term partnership value, identifying opportunities to expand distribution, portfolio share and rate of sale.
• Lead the execution of customer partnership plans, ensuring alignment between customers, route-to-market partners and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor account performance, proactively managing risks and opportunities while adapting plans to deliver agreed targets.
• Manage customer investment effectively, using data, insight and commercial understanding to maximise return on investment and support profitable growth.
• Deliver accurate forecasting, business planning and commercial recommendations to support effective decision-making and account development.
• Ensure Asahi UK's premium brands are activated and executed to agreed standards, delivering customer activation plans that support both commercial and brand objectives.
• Evaluate performance and apply learnings to improve future activity effectiveness and commercial outcomes.
• Collaborate closely with route-to-market partners and cross-functional teams, sharing customer insight, best practice and opportunities to support wider business goals.
• Contribute positively to team success through strong collaboration, knowledge sharing and leading by example.

Skills

Communication

Relationship-building

Commercial awareness

Negotiation

Planning

Data-driven

Self-motivated

Resilient

Stakeholder management

Target achievement

Job description

Key Account Manager, New Business - London

Location: Chiswick

Type of contract: Permanent - Full-Time

Key Account Manager, New Business - London

The Key Account Manager (IFT) is responsible for developing and growing strategic relationships with Managed Retail Groups (MRGs) and key regional customers to deliver sustainable volume, value and distribution growth.

Through effective Joint Business Planning (JBP), partnership management and commercial leadership, the role creates mutual value for both Asahi UK and its customers. Working closely with customers, route-to-market partners and internal stakeholders, the Key Account Manager ensures partnership plans are executed effectively, growth opportunities are identified and commercial objectives are achieved.

As a senior member of the regional team, you will be the individual who sets the standard in commercial deal modelling, customer relationships and execution. As the standard bearer, the ideal candidate will show strong leadership qualities to support other team members with their individual development and help raise the capability within the team.

What you will deliver (Key Deliverables & Responsibilities):

• Develop and deliver Joint Business Plans with key customers to achieve volume, , distribution and profitability objectives.
• Build strong customer relationships that drive retention, growth and long-term partnership value, identifying opportunities to expand distribution, portfolio share and rate of sale.
• Lead the execution of customer partnership plans, ensuring alignment between customers, route-to-market partners and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor account performance, proactively managing risks and opportunities while adapting plans to deliver agreed targets.
• Manage customer investment effectively, using data, insight and commercial understanding to maximise return on investment and support profitable growth.
• Deliver accurate forecasting, business planning and commercial recommendations to support effective decision-making and account development.
• Ensure Asahi UK's premium brands are activated and executed to agreed standards, delivering customer activation plans that support both commercial and brand objectives.
• Evaluate performance and apply learnings to improve future activity effectiveness and commercial outcomes.
• Collaborate closely with route-to-market partners and cross-functional teams, sharing customer insight, best practice and opportunities to support wider business goals.
• Contribute positively to team success through strong collaboration, knowledge sharing and leading by example.

Experience & Qualification Requirements:

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Commercial awareness and an interest in sales, negotiation and business growth.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with a range of stakeholders.
• Strong planning, organisation and prioritisation skills.
• Comfortable using data and insights to support decision-making.
• Self-motivated, resilient and proactive in approach.
• Experience in sales, account management, hospitality, retail or another customer-facing role.
• Experience managing customer relationships or business partnerships.
• Experience working towards commercial targets or performance objectives.
• Knowledge of the drinks, FMCG, hospitality or wholesale sectors.
• Experience presenting, negotiating or influencing stakeholders

We are committed to nurturing a workplace where we celebrate and respect difference, and support everyone to be true to who they are! At Asahi Europe and International we believe you can SHINE AS YOU ARE - no matter your age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs. We want to support you to be courageous in your individuality and to know that whoever you are and whatever your circumstances, you can belong with us without having to conform.