Managing Director

**About the Role**:
You will play a pivotal role in driving the success and expansion of the SEA region, which currently has revenues of ca. USD 14M. Your influence will be profound, fostering the development of robust leadership teams, enhancing operational efficiency, and championing a culture of excellence for customers, partners and employees. These efforts are crucial to realizing the organization’s ambitious goals and objectives.

**_Who will report to me? _**:
You will oversee a regional team of approximately 95 employees, including sales, service, and marketing staff across Southeast Asia subsidiaries (e.g., Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia), with direct reports including country managers and functional leads.

**_Who will I report to? _**:
You will report directly to CEO and Managing Director at HQ (Germany), ensuring alignment with global strategic objectives.

**_What is the compensation? _**:
The client offers a competitive base salary, bonus, and benefits. We are happy to share specifics during the first interview.

**_Where will I be located? _**:
The role is preferably based in Singapore, with flexibility for other regions in SEA in the future. Approximately 50% travel is expected initially to engage with teams, customers, and partners across the region.

**Responsibilities**:

- Assume full P&L responsibility, managing budgets, implement better processes and improve efficiency across the organization
- Develop and execute regional strategies to meet financial goals, expand market share in SEA and increase commercial strength
- Lead and mentor the sales team to exceed targets, overseeing strategic sales planning, capacity management, and monthly KPI forecasting.
- Strengthen relationships with principals and understand customer needs quickly
- Navigate complex business interfaces with Europe and non-linear business models
- Lead with vision and influence, rallying the team behind strategic decisions
- Bring energy and drive for change while first listening and assessing the landscape
- Follow Company’s Code of Conduct, ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards
- Collaborate with all Business Unit Leaders to align solutions with customer needs and market trends in automotive, energy, and steel industries
- Ensure compliance with local and international regulations, maintaining relationships with government authorities, customers, and partners
- Foster a result-driven culture, minimizing turnover and developing next-generation leaders through coaching and mentorship

**Requirements**:

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA or equivalent post-graduate qualification preferred
- 10+ years in senior management with a proven track record in P&L management and strategic leadership within a regional or multi-country setting, ideally in industrial or tech B2B environments
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive growth through both direct and indirect sales channels
- Solid understanding of manufacturing-related industries such as automotive, aerospace, energy, or industrial equipment
- Demonstrated ability to lead change, implement operational improvements, and foster a performance-driven culture
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and align cross-functional and cross-cultural teams
- Familiarity with Southeast Asian markets, business practices, and regulatory frameworks; experience working with Japanese customers is a strong advantage
- Positive drive, leadership and dynamism prioritized over extensive prior experience in identical roles
- Fluent in English; additional Asian languages or German are advantageous.