Managing Director – Personal Care | Chemicals
Job Title: Managing Director – Personal Care | Chemicals
Location: Hybrid – Europe
Salary: €150,000 – €220,000 + bonus + package
Our trusted client is seeking a Managing Director for its European Personal Care division. This is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and executing the regional strategy, driving commercial performance and leading operational excellence across multiple European markets.
The business is a well-established international chemicals and specialty ingredients organisation with a strong technical heritage in personal care. As part of its next phase of growth, the company is looking for a leader who can accelerate performance, strengthen customer relationships, and build a high-performing regional organisation.
Roles and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Define and execute the European Personal Care strategy aligned with global objectives
- Lead the long-term growth agenda across commercial, technical, and operational functions
- Act as a key member of the global leadership team, contributing to overall business strategy
- Identify new market opportunities and drive regional expansion initiatives
Commercial Leadership
- Full P&L responsibility for the European Personal Care business
- Drive revenue growth across key accounts, distributors, and new business channels
- Strengthen strategic customer and supplier relationships
- Oversee pricing strategy, margin development, and commercial performance
Operational Excellence
- Ensure operational performance across multiple countries and sites
- Drive efficiency, productivity, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Oversee supply chain and production alignment with commercial priorities
- Ensure delivery of high-quality, market-leading personal care ingredient solutions
Innovation & Market Development
- Champion innovation in personal care ingredients and applications
- Identify emerging trends across skincare, haircare, and hygiene markets
- Support development of differentiated product and solution offerings
- Partner with technical and R&D teams to accelerate pipeline delivery
People Leadership
- Lead, develop, and inspire a multi-country leadership team
- Build a strong performance-driven and commercially focused culture
- Develop succession planning and long-term organisational capability
- Drive engagement across diverse regional teams
Key Relationships
- Global Executive Leadership Team
- Regional Commercial, Technical, and Operations Teams
- Key Strategic Customers and Distributors
- R&D, Supply Chain, and Finance functions
- External partners and industry stakeholders
Based in Europe with regular international travel required
Essential Experience
Essential
- Proven senior leadership experience within chemicals, personal care, or specialty ingredients
- Strong track record of leading a €100m+ P&L (or equivalent scale)
- Deep understanding of personal care markets (cosmetics, skincare, haircare, hygiene)
- Strong commercial leadership and customer relationship capability
- Experience leading multi-country or regional business units
- Demonstrated ability to drive growth in complex, matrix organisations
Desirable
- Background in international chemicals, ingredients distribution, or manufacturing
- Experience in innovation-led or R&D-driven organisations
- Exposure to transformation, growth acceleration, or business restructuring
Personal Attributes
- Strategic, commercially driven, and results-focused
- Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills
- Inspirational leader with the ability to build high-performing teams
- Comfortable operating in fast-paced, evolving environments
- Strong customer and market orientation
Benefits
150,000 – €220,000 base salary
- Bonus
- Executive-level benefits package