Managing Director - Ingredients

QLM Search; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

QLM Search is guiding the appointment of a US-based Divisional Managing Director for its International Food & Beverage Ingredients group. The role carries full P&L accountability and the mandate to define and execute the division strategy to accelerate growth within the US market.

The candidate will lead a high-calibre leadership team, partner with the Group CEO and Board, and drive governance while maintaining entrepreneurial agility to unlock the division’s potential in a globally integrated

Qualifications

• Leadership of complex, international manufacturing businesses with full P&L accountability.
• Strong commercial and operational leadership within ingredients or adjacent food & beverage markets.
• Track record of accelerating growth and building businesses, divisions or platforms.
• Experience in innovation-led, customer-partnered environments.
• Credibility with major international food, beverage and flavour-house customers.
• Ability to balance entrepreneurial pace with governance and commercial discipline.
• Hands-on, people-centred leadership style with building high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the division strategy, aligning with the Group’s international framework.
• Accelerate commercial and operational growth for the Natural Ingredients division in the US.
• Develop the leadership team and build structure and capabilities to realise potential.
• Maintain transparent, trusted relationships with US CEO, Group CEO and Board.

Skills

P&L leadership

International leadership

Commercial leadership

Growth acceleration

Innovation-led mindset

Customer-partnered approach

People-centred leadership

Job description

QLM Search is supporting the Board of a vertically integrated International Food & Beverage Ingredients group with the appointment of a Divisional Managing Director. Natural Ingredients is already a significant and successful part of the Group, with substantial revenues, specialist manufacturing and technical capabilities, and an established international customer base. With significant opportunity for further growth, the Group is now appointing a US based Divisional Managing Director to lead its next stage of development.

With full P&L accountability, the Divisional MD will define and execute the strategy for the division, accelerate commercial and operational growth, develop the leadership team and build the structure and capabilities required to realise its potential. The successful candidate will have the autonomy and entrepreneurial mindset to shape the division, while operating effectively within a larger international Group and developing a transparent and trusted relationship with the US CEO, Group CEO and Board.

We are looking for a proven Managing Director/BU Leader with experience across natural ingredients, plant-based ingredients, flavours, extracts, food & beverage ingredients or closely related sectors.

Critical experience includes:

• Leadership of complex, international manufacturing businesses with full P&L accountability
• Strong commercial and operational leadership within ingredients or adjacent food & beverage markets
• A track record of accelerating growth and building businesses, divisions or platforms
• Experience within innovation-led, customer-partnered environments
• Credibility with major international food, beverage and flavour-house customers
• The ability to combine entrepreneurial pace with strong governance and commercial discipline
• A hands-on, people-centred leadership style with a track record of building high-performing teams