Managing Director
Location: Leeds
Package: Circa £95k - £115k + Bonus + Car + Significant LTIP + Benefits
Company Overview & Strategic Vision
Our client is a dynamic, forward-thinking, and ambitious B2B SME. Having established a strong market foothold, the business is now primed for an aggressive and structured period of commercial expansion. To navigate this next chapter, the Board is seeking to appoint a Managing Director. This is not merely a stewardship role; it is a transformational leadership mandate. The company has a clearly defined exit strategy, targeting a significant trade sale or institutional investment within 3 to 4 years.
The Incentive:
To reflect the criticality of this mission, the successful candidate will be granted a substantial Share Option package. This is a genuine wealth-creation opportunity; the financial upside is directly and transparently tied to the valuation multiple achieved at exit.
Summary & Strategic 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 of leading a SME business through significant growth.
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
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 (e.g. £3m to £20m+).
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.
LinkedIn Business:
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.