Sales Director

MANU FORTI; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international events company is seeking a Sales Director to drive sales strategy for a flagship defence and security exhibition in London. The ideal candidate will have 7-10 years of B2B sales experience in defence or large-scale events, strong leadership skills, and the ability to manage an international sales team. This role offers a unique opportunity to grow the event's presence in key markets. The position requires 4 days in the office in London and 1 day of remote work.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of senior B2B sales experience, ideally in defence, aerospace, or large events.
• Proven success in achieving commercial targets.
• Experience managing international sales teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end sales strategy for exhibitors and sponsors.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
• Manage an international sales team and agency partners.

Skills

B2B sales experience

Leadership skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

International market understanding

Job description

Overview

Sales Director – London-based, full-time permanent. International event portfolio with Pan-African focus. An exciting opportunity for an experienced and commercially minded Sales Director to lead the sales strategy for a flagship defence and security exhibition and conference. This role is responsible for driving exhibitor and sponsorship revenue, expanding the event's international presence, and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders across government, defence, and industry sectors.

As a key member of the leadership team, you'll work closely with internal departments (marketing, operations, content) and external partners to deliver a world-class, strategically positioned event serving African and international markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end sales strategy and execution across exhibitor and sponsorship streams
• Build and maintain relationships with defence contractors, government bodies, OEMs, and embassies
• Manage a high-performing international sales team and agency partners
• Collaborate with marketing and content teams to ensure unified commercial messaging
• Analyse market trends and identify new growth opportunities across the African defence sector
• Represent the event and organisation at international trade shows and meetings

What We're Looking For

• 7-10 years of senior B2B sales experience, ideally in defence, aerospace, security, or large-scale international events
• Proven success in achieving and exceeding commercial targets
• Strong leadership skills and experience managing multi-regional sales teams
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills
• Confidence working across different cultures and international markets
• Experience with large-scale exhibitions (especially in defence/security) is highly desirable
• Willingness to travel regularly across Africa and beyond

This is a unique chance to take ownership of a high-profile event in a strategically important sector, working alongside an ambitious, collaborative team. If you're a results-driven sales leader with strong industry insight and a global mindset, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note this requires 4 days in the office (London) and 1 day WFH.