Chief Executive Officer

Kensington International Executive Search; Illinois; On-site; USD 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Kensington International Executive Search is conducting a confidential search for the next Chief Executive Officer of a middle-market company headquartered in the Greater Chicago area. The CEO will report to the Board and work with the executive leadership team to set priorities, drive execution, and position the business for its next growth phase.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record leading P&L in a B2B services, manufacturing, or distribution environment.

Qualifications

• Executive with P&L responsibility in a middle-market B2B organization.
• Strong strategic and operational leadership experience.
• Proven ability to develop and execute growth strategies.

Responsibilities

• Set the overall direction and strategy for the business.
• Lead through the executive team and establish clear accountability across the organization.
• Drive organic growth and diversify the company’s customer and revenue base.
• Evaluate opportunities to expand products, services, capabilities, and markets.
• Identify ways to strengthen technology, data, and digital capabilities across the business.
• Maintain focus on operating performance, customer service, and financial results.
• Build organizational capability and leadership talent for future growth.
• Collaborate with the Board on strategy, priorities, and major decisions.
• Maintain strong relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Skills

P&L leadership

Strategic leadership

Growth strategy

Board experience

Operational leadership

Executive communication

Job description

Kensington International has been retained to conduct a confidential search for the next Chief Executive Officer of an established middle-market company headquartered in the Greater Chicago area.

The company has a strong operating foundation, an experienced leadership team, and long-standing customer relationships. The next CEO will be expected to build on those strengths while helping the organization grow, broaden its customer base, and continue to evolve its capabilities.

The Opportunity

The CEO will report to the Board of Directors and work closely with the executive leadership team to set priorities, drive execution, and position the business for its next stage of growth.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Set the overall direction and strategy for the business.
• Lead through the executive team and establish clear accountability across the organization.
• Drive organic growth and identify opportunities to diversify the company’s customer and revenue base.
• Evaluate opportunities to expand products, services, capabilities, and markets.
• Identify practical ways to strengthen the use of technology, data, and digital capabilities across the business.
• Maintain a strong focus on operating performance, customer service, and financial results.
• Build organizational capability and ensure the company has the leadership talent needed to support future growth.
• Work closely with the Board on strategy, performance, investment priorities, and major business decisions.
• Maintain strong relationships with customers, business partners, and other key stakeholders.

Candidate Profile

We are interested in executives who have led a meaningful P&L within a middle-market, operations-focused B2B organization.

Potential backgrounds may include:

• President
• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Operating Officer
• Division President
• General Manager
• Senior executive with significant P&L responsibility

The strongest candidates will have:

• A track record of successfully leading and growing a middle-market business or substantial business unit.
• Strong commercial and operational leadership experience.
• Experience developing and executing growth strategies.
• The ability to lead through a senior management team and hold people accountable for results.
• Strong business judgment and financial acumen.
• Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors.
• The ability to think strategically while staying close enough to the business to understand what is driving performance.
• A collaborative, practical, and low-ego leadership style.
• Experience in B2B services, technology-enabled services, business process services, production-oriented services, distribution, manufacturing, or related businesses.

The position is based in the Greater Chicago area, and candidates with an existing connection to the Chicago market are preferred.