Managing Director - Europe

Managing Director (Ingredients / Nutrition)

A global organisation in the ingredients and nutrition sector is seeking a Managing Director to lead and scale its European operations, with a primary focus on building and expanding its presence in Ireland as a strategic hub.

This is a senior executive role with full responsibility for establishing and growing the European business, driving strategy execution, operational performance, and commercial success, including full P&L ownership.

Define and execute the European growth strategy, building a scalable and profitable regional platform aligned with global objectives. Identify and develop new market opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams to support expansion.

Drive commercial performance through customer acquisition, key account development, and disciplined pricing and margin management. Shape the customer portfolio to support long-term, sustainable growth.

Establish and oversee operations across the region, including supply chain, manufacturing (where applicable), logistics, and customer service, ensuring strong performance in quality, compliance, and efficiency.

Maintain full financial accountability, including revenue, profitability, cash flow, and investment planning. Implement clear reporting structures and performance metrics to track growth.

Build and lead a high-performing regional team, creating a culture of ownership, accountability, and execution. Lead hiring, team development, and succession planning to support ongoing expansion.

Act as the senior representative for the business in Europe, building relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and relevant industry and regulatory bodies. Work closely with global leadership to align strategy and support innovation and growth initiatives.

Requirements

Essential:

• Proven experience as a Managing Director, General Manager, or senior business leader with full P&L responsibility
• Strong background in ingredients, nutraceuticals, food manufacturing, specialty chemicals, or related sectors
• Demonstrated success in building or scaling a business within Europe
• Strong commercial acumen, including pricing, margin management, and customer strategy
• Experience building and leading high-performing teams

Preferred:

• Experience establishing or expanding operations in new markets
• Exposure to regulated environments (e.g. food safety, GMP, quality standards)
• Experience working with external stakeholders, partners, or government agencies