Managing Director

Location: Leeds

Package: Circa £95k - £115k + Bonus + Car + Significant LTIP + Benefits

Company Overview & Strategic Vision

Our client is an ambitious B2B SME. The company has a clearly defined exit strategy, targeting a significant trade sale or institutional investment within 3 to 4 years. As such, this role offers a lucrative exit LTIP.

Mandate

As Managing Director, you will assume full P&L responsibility and accountability for the entire operational and commercial performance of the business. We require a leader who is equally comfortable presenting financial forecasts as they are coaching a sales leader on the ground. You will be tasked with professionalising the organisation, moving it from an informal, high-potential setup to a disciplined, data-driven enterprise. It is a essential you have experience in a senior leadership role in a SME B2B business.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own the 3-year strategic roadmap, cascading high-level commercial objectives into granular, departmental KPIs.
• Identify new market verticals, strategic partnerships, and revenue diversification opportunities within the B2B landscape.
• Lead all merger, acquisition, or trade sale preparation activities, acting as the primary liaison for investors and acquirers during the exit process.
• Take full ownership of the company’s financial health. Work closely with the Finance Director/Team to model growth scenarios, manage cash flow, and control overheads.
• Implement rigorous financial controls and operational governance frameworks that meet the scrutiny of private equity houses or corporate acquirers.
• Deliver sustainable margin improvements through pricing strategies, procurement efficiencies, and resource optimisation.
• Redesign and embed a high-performance sales infrastructure. This includes refining the sales methodology, overhauling commission structures, and implementing a fit-for-purpose CRM to provide accurate pipeline visibility.
• Act as the commercial catalyst for the sales function; challenge, motivate, and upskill the team to move beyond "order taking" into high-value solution selling.
• Personally oversee key client relationships and strategic contract negotiations.
• Establish the rhythm of the business: monthly operational reviews, quarterly Board packs, and annual strategic offsites.
• Cultivate a culture of high challenge, high support. You will set the standards for accountability, pace, and excellence.
• Mentor the senior leadership team, identifying internal successors and addressing skills gaps to ensure the management structure is investment-grade.

Essential Experience

• ESSENTIAL - Proven experience in a Senior Leadership Team (Managing Director, Commercial Director, or Finance Director) within a B2B SME Business.
• A demonstrable history of doubling down on revenue or leading a business through a significant growth curve.
• Experience in "professionalising" a business, introducing process and rigour without stifling the entrepreneurial spirit.
• Qualification (Highly Desirable): A “numbers-first” leader with deep management accounting literacy and an ‘into the detail’ approach to leadership.
• You view the P&L not just as a report, but as a diagnostic tool. You understand the levers of EBITDA conversion and working capital management.
• You can conceptualise the blueprint for a £20m+ business, but you are willing to roll up your sleeves to build the foundations required to get there.
• You replace gut-feel decisions with forensic analysis of data. You will implement metrics that measure leading indicators, not just lagging results.
• You possess the executive presence to command a boardroom and the emotional intelligence to engage a workforce.
• You thrive under the pressure of ambitious targets and tight timelines.

This is a rare opportunity to operate with genuine autonomy and leave a tangible legacy. You will not be inheriting a "steady state" business. You will be reshaping it. The LTIP is structured to deliver life-changing remuneration in the event of a successful exit. You will have the full backing of the Board to make bold decisions regarding structure, talent, and strategy.

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Executive Recruit is a boutique executive search firm specialising in helping organisations source and attract top-tier leadership talent. With a tailored approach, we partner with businesses to identify high-calibre executives who drive growth and transformation. Our expertise ensures clients find the right blend of experience and acumen to strengthen leadership and board effectiveness.