Managing Director

Pure Executive; Norwich; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agri-food processing company in the UK seeks a Managing Director to lead its next growth chapter. The role involves driving strategic plans, ensuring operational excellence, and representing the brand within the community. Ideal candidates will combine leadership with commercial acumen in the agricultural sector, pushing for sustainability and innovation. Strong mentorship and financial management experience are vital for success in this pivotal role.

Benefits

Highly competitive salary package

Supportive family Board

Opportunity for impactful leadership

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Managing Director in an agricultural or food processing sector.
• Strong leadership skills to develop and mentor teams.
• Ability to navigate complex commercial landscapes.

Responsibilities

• Drive and evolve the strategic plan for the business.
• Ensure operational excellence and strong financial performance.
• Act as a trusted spokesperson and brand ambassador.

Skills

Inspiring leadership

Financial management

Operational management

Commercial acumen

Sustainability

Innovation

Job description

Managing Director – Place UK

Tunstead & Norwich, Norfolk | Full-time

Highly competitive salary package and benefits

Lead one of Britain’s most established soft fruit growers and suppliers of IQF produce into its next chapter of growth.

Place UK Ltd is a heritage family-owned business and one of Britain’s leading soft fruit growers, cultivating strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and cherries from its Norfolk base since 1954. Alongside farming, the company operates a food processing division, producing a wide portfolio of IQF fruit and pulse products for both retailers and B2B manufacturers. This combination of fresh produce and frozen ingredient expertise makes Place UK a trusted partner across the food industry, all underpinned by its values-led, family focused culture.

With an ambitious strategic plan approved by the family holding company, Place UK is seeking an exceptional Managing Director to guide the Board in delivering this vision, champion the business as an industry ambassador, and foster strong, collaborative relationships with the family holding company. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving and evolving the strategic plan, ensuring operational excellence and strong financial performance, while championing a people-first culture that underpins growth, profitability, and competitiveness through a ‘stronger together’ ethos.

As the public face of Place UK, they will act as a trusted spokesperson and brand ambassador, representing the business within the local community and industry circles, building meaningful relationships with stakeholders, suppliers, and customers alike.

The Opportunity

This is a pivotal leadership role for a proven commercially focused Managing Director, ideally with experience in agricultural food processing, and/or fresh foods manufacturing sector.

You’ll face two very distinct challenges and opportunities:

• Soft Fruit Farming – leading a full review of farming methods and marketing models to build a resilient, future-ready business.
• Food Processing – capitalising on health-driven market trends with fruit and pulse products, expanding both product range and market reach.

What We’re Looking For

A leader who combines strategic vision with hands-on commercial acumen. Someone who will respect the businesses heritage, whilst balancing innovation with pragmatism, and who thrives in a business where tradition meets transformation.

Key attributes include:

• Inspiring leadership and people-first mindset with the ability to develop and mentor teams
• Strong financial and operational management skills
• Proven ability to navigate complex commercial landscapes
• Passion for sustainability, innovation, and culture
• Experience/strong alignment to family-owned businesses
• Demonstrated success as a Managing Director

Why join Place UK?

This is more than a leadership role – it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact on one of the UK’s most respected agri-food processing businesses. You’ll work with a dedicated executive team, a supportive family Board, and a community that values both heritage and forward-thinking growth.

If you’re ready to lead a values-driven organisation into an exciting new era, we’d love to hear from you.