Company: This privately owned, global food ingredients business operates across multiple international markets, supplying tailored solutions to leading food manufacturers. With a strong heritage and long-term ownership structure, the company combines commercial ambition with a people-centric and purpose-driven approach.

Following the creation of a dedicated IMEA region, the business is investing in strengthening its regional leadership and accelerating growth across India, Middle East and Africa. The region is currently experiencing strong double-digit growth, supported by an expanding customer base and increasing strategic focus across both established and emerging markets.

Role: The Commercial Director IMEA will be responsible for leading the commercial organisation across India, Middle East and Africa, driving revenue growth while contributing to the broader regional strategy. Reporting directly to the Regional President, this role sits as a key member of the leadership team and plays a central role in shaping the next phase of growth.

This position requires a balanced profile, combining strategic thinking with hands-on execution. The successful candidate will lead multi-country teams, build strong customer relationships, and support the development of commercial capabilities across markets at varying stages of maturity. The focus is not only on delivering results, but on how those results are achieved, with an emphasis on collaboration, team development and long-term value creation.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the commercial organisation across IMEA, with direct and dotted line responsibility across India, Middle East and Africa.
• Define and execute regional commercial strategy, aligned with broader business objectives and long-term growth plans.
• Drive revenue growth across the region, focusing on both strategic account development and expansion into new and emerging markets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, developing long-term partnerships and deep customer intimacy.
• Develop and implement strategic account plans, including pricing strategy, go-to-market approach and customer engagement models.
• Operate both strategically and tactically, stepping into key situations where required to support teams and drive commercial outcomes.
• Lead by example, coaching and developing teams through hands-on involvement in complex commercial challenges.
• Adapt leadership approach across markets with different levels of maturity, from highly established operations to developing regions.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, operations, R&D and supply chain to ensure alignment between commercial strategy and execution.
• Contribute to the overall regional leadership agenda, supporting organisational development, succession planning and team capability building.
• Ensure disciplined forecasting, pipeline management and performance tracking across the region.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Business, Food Science, Chemistry or a related field.
• Minimum 10–15 years of commercial experience within food ingredients, flavours, or related speciality ingredients sectors.
• Proven experience in regional or multi-country commercial leadership roles, ideally across IMEA or similarly complex regions.
• Demonstrated track record of driving growth across both established and emerging markets.
• Strong leadership capability, with experience managing and developing diverse, multi-cultural teams.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, including direct involvement in key commercial situations.
• Strong customer engagement skills, with the ability to build long-term relationships and strategic partnerships.
• Commercially astute, with experience in pricing strategy, account development and market expansion.
• High level of adaptability, able to operate effectively across markets with differing levels of maturity and complexity.
• Leadership style aligned to collaboration, humility and long-term value creation rather than purely short-term results.
• Fluency in English is required; additional regional languages are advantageous.