A leading international food group is seeking a commercially driven CEO to lead its UK & Ireland business, overseeing a cross-functional team and full P&L responsibility across retail, foodservice, and B2B channels. The ideal candidate will bring strong FMCG leadership experience, a hands-on approach, and a proven track record of driving growth in international, fast-paced environments.
Client Details
My client is a major international food group specialising in chilled and frozen products, with operations in 57 countries and production facilities across Europe. Known for its strong export focus, the group combines manufacturing scale with a diverse portfolio and a well-established presence in retail, foodservice, and B2B channels.
Description
CEO
* Full ownership of the UK & Ireland
P&L
, driving profitability, market share, and investment efficiency.
* Lead and manage
a cross-functional team across sales, marketing, finance, logistics, and quality.
* Develop and execute the
commercial strategy
across retail (branded and private label), foodservice, B2B, Horeca, and e-commerce channels.
* Oversee
sales planning and promotional activities
, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
* Monitor and adjust the
business plan
, proposing corrective actions as needed.
* Ensure
team performance
, including recruitment, training, and development.
* Report directly to the
Managing Director, Western & Central Europe
, contributing to the regional leadership team.
Profile
The successful CEO candidate will be a commercially focused leader with a strong track record in sales within chilled or frozen food companies. They will have deep knowledge of the UK customer base-particularly supermarkets and foodservice-and proven experience managing cross-functional teams, driving growth, and delivering results through hands-on leadership and strategic vision. The head office is based in North West England, the successful candidate will be expected on site weekly.
Job Offer
Competitive basic salary
Performance led bonus
Executive package