ABOUT DEPARTER - THE KNOW-WHO PEOPLE

Departer is a leading German Executive Search firm with over 20 years of experience in global leadership recruitment. We specialize in placing executives in medium-sized enterprises and private equity portfolio firms across DACH, MEAI, ASIA and ANZ regions. With a deep understanding of the DACH economy, we facilitate successful placements within global management teams across corporate headquarters and entities abroad.

Our client is a globally established European industrial technology group with a strong international presence and a long-standing track record in Pakistan. The company has been successfully operating in the Pakistani market for more than six decades and has built an established organization, strong customer relationships and a highly experienced local team. The Pakistani business comprises approximately 600 employees and combines a well-established commercial setup with its own manufacturing operations, serving a broad range of industrial customers across Pakistan.

As part of the continued development of the Pakistani business, we are looking for a senior and internationally experienced CEO (m/f/d) to assume overall responsibility for the company and lead its further development. As CEO, you will assume full entrepreneurial responsibility for the Pakistani business. Based in Lahore, you will lead the complete organization across sales, operations, manufacturing, engineering, finance and business support functions. While the role requires a holistic understanding of the business, a strong commercial and customer-oriented mindset is particularly important.

You will act as the central leader and representative of the company in Pakistan, combining strategic direction with a hands-on leadership approach. The position requires the ability to lead an established organization, further develop its market position and operate effectively within a sophisticated international group structure. As CEO, you will serve as a member of the local Board and work closely with the Board and Regional Management. You will report directly to the responsible Regional Management and maintain close interaction with the European headquarters and senior stakeholders across the international organization.

Your duties and responsibilities will include:

• Assume full entrepreneurial and P&L responsibility for the Pakistani business, leading its commercial performance, strategic development and continued growth
• Lead and develop an organization of approximately 600 employees across sales, manufacturing, engineering, finance and business support functions
• Define and execute the business strategy for Pakistan in alignment with regional and global objectives
• Further strengthen the company's established market position and drive sustainable business growth
• Lead the commercial organization and work closely with the Sales Director and Sales Managers to further develop customers, markets and commercial performance
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, business partners and other external stakeholders
• Ensure close alignment between sales, manufacturing, operations, engineering and administration
• Lead and develop the local management team and provide clear strategic and operational direction
• Take overall responsibility for the operational and financial performance of the company
• Represent the company as CEO towards customers, partners, authorities and other relevant stakeholders in Pakistan
• Serve as a member of the local Board and work closely with the Board and Regional Management on strategic, governance and business matters
• Manage the interface between the Pakistani organization, Regional Management and Europe headquarters within an international matrix structure
• Effectively manage senior internal stakeholders and ensure transparent communication and alignment across the organization
• Ensure effective corporate governance, compliance and implementation of group standards
• Further develop the organization while preserving its established culture, long-term employee relationships and strong local market knowledge

To be successful in this role, you should have the following skills and experiences:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration or a comparable discipline
• Several years of successful experience in senior executive management with proven track record of leading a sizeable organization with responsibility across multiple business functions
• Strong commercial orientation with substantial experience in sales, business development and customer-facing leadership
• Proven P&L and overall business responsibility, ideally within an industrial B2B environment
• Experience managing and developing sales organizations and senior commercial leaders
• Solid technical understanding and the ability to operate confidently in an engineering-driven industrial business
• Experience working in an internationally structured organization with a global or regional headquarters
• Strong understanding of matrix organizations, HQ reporting and complex internal stakeholder management
• Experience working across different cultures and in an international business environment
• Previous international or overseas experience is highly desirable, particularly for candidates returning to Pakistan
• Fluency in English and Urdu is essential
• Mature, hands-on and collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust across an established organization
• Strong executive presence combined with an approachable and respectful management style
• Ability to lead by example, listen effectively and work successfully with experienced and long-serving teams

ABOUT DEPARTER - THE KNOW-WHO PEOPLE

Departer is a leading German Executive Search firm with over 20 years of experience in global leadership recruitment. We specialize in placing executives in medium-sized enterprises and private equity portfolio firms across DACH, MEAI, ASIA and ANZ regions. With a deep understanding of the DACH economy, we facilitate successful placements within global management teams across corporate headquarters and entities abroad.

Our client is a globally established industrial technology company with a strong international presence and a long-standing reputation for engineering excellence, quality and customer-oriented solutions. The company develops and delivers highly specialized technologies, engineering services and solutions to demanding industrial customers across international markets.

The Middle East represents an important and well-established region within the company's global organization with operations across several key markets and a broad portfolio of commercial, engineering and service activities. The regional organization works closely with headquarters in Europe while operating in a diverse and dynamic market environment.

As Interim General Manager (m/f/d), you will assume overall responsibility for the regional business and its continued development. The mandate combines business leadership, organizational development, performance management and cultural leadership across the region.

The role is particularly suited to an experienced Middle East executive who understands how to lead established organizations through periods of change while maintaining business continuity, customer focus and employee engagement. A key element of the assignment will be to develop the regional leadership organization and support the continued development of the next generation of regional leadership.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring both strategic perspective and strong operational presence. Success will depend not only on setting direction but also on building trust, aligning different stakeholder groups, working effectively with headquarters and creating conditions for sustainable performance across the region.

Your duties and responsibilities will include:

• Assume overall responsibility for the regional business including commercial performance, organizational development and operational execution
• Lead the regional organization in close alignment with the company's global strategy and European headquarters
• Ensure sound financial and commercial performance while maintaining a strong focus on sustainable and profitable growth
• Provide clear leadership and direction to the regional management team and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and ownership
• Strengthen cooperation across Sales, Engineering, Service and other regional functions
• Further develop the regional organization and ensure effective structures, responsibilities and decision-making processes
• Support the continued development and stabilization of the regional engineering and service organization including the further development of service capabilities in India
• Drive customer proximity and personally engage with key customers, partners and strategic stakeholders where required
• Maintain business continuity and organizational stability in a complex and evolving regional environment
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, collaboration and overall organizational performance
• Act as a strong and trusted interface between the regional organization and European headquarters while balancing local market requirements with global standards and expectations
• Lead change with an appropriate balance of decisiveness, patience and cultural sensitivity
• Coach, develop and mentor members of the regional leadership organization with a particular focus on preparing the next generation of regional leadership
• Strengthen the long-term sustainability and continuity of the regional organization through effective leadership development and knowledge transfer

To be successful in this role, you should have the following skills and experiences:

• Proven senior management experience with overall business or P&L responsibility in the Middle East
• Extensive senior-level experience in the Middle East is essential with a strong understanding of the region's diverse business cultures and leadership environments
• Demonstrated experience leading established organizations through periods of organizational development, change or transformation
• Strong track record in business management, commercial leadership and organizational development
• Proven experience working within a structured international organization and effectively balancing regional business requirements with headquarters' strategic direction, governance and processes
• Ability to combine regional entrepreneurial thinking with corporate governance, processes and global standards
• Strong leadership presence combined with a collaborative, patient and culturally sensitive management style
• Demonstrated ability to build trust across diverse teams and stakeholder groups
• Experience developing and mentoring senior managers and emerging leadership talent
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution
• High level of interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments
• Strong general management and business leadership capabilities; specific product or functional expertise is considered secondary to proven leadership, commercial and organizational management experience
• Experience in industrial technology, automation, engineering, process industries or related B2B environments is advantageous
• A technical or business-related university degree is preferred
• Fluency in English; additional languages are an advantage
• Willingness to be based in Dubai, UAE with regular travel across the region

ABOUT DEPARTER - THE KNOW-WHO PEOPLE

Departer is a leading German Executive Search firm with over 20 years of experience in global leadership recruitment. We specialize in placing executives in medium-sized enterprises and private equity portfolio firms across ANZ, MEAI, ASIA, and DACH regions. With a deep understanding of the DACH economy, we facilitate successful placements within global management teams across corporate headquarters and entities abroad.

Our client is a globally recognized manufacturer of premium industrial technologies and engineered solutions, supporting customers across a wide range of critical industries worldwide. With a long-standing reputation for quality, innovation, and operational excellence, the company has established a strong market presence and continues to invest in sustainable growth across Australia and New Zealand. 

As Managing Director ANZ (m/f/d), you will assume full commercial responsibility for the region and play a pivotal role in shaping its future development. Working closely with regional and global stakeholders, you will lead and further develop an established sales organization. This role requires a true hands-on leader with an entrepreneurial mindset, a playing manager who combines strategic vision with a strong willingness to lead from the front. Beyond managing the business, you will actively drive new market development, build and strengthen customer relationships, and personally communicate the company's value proposition to key clients. By leading through example, you will inspire and develop your sales team while identifying and capitalizing on new business opportunities. As the Head of a lean regional organization, you will thrive in an environment that demands both strategic leadership and operational involvement. This role offers a high degree of autonomy, strategic influence, and the opportunity to contribute to the long-term success of a globally respected organization.

Your duties and responsibilities will include:

• Develop and execute the sales strategy for Australia and New Zealand in alignment with global business objectives and growth ambitions
• Lead, coach, and further develop a high-performing sales organization while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
• Encourage, empower, and develop the team while supporting talent development and succession planning to ensure long-term organizational success
• Drive sustainable revenue growth and increase market share through strategic business development and a strong direct sales approach
• Maintain an active customer-facing presence and support key commercial activities through a hands-on leadership style and deep understanding of local market dynamics
• Promote a consultative and value-driven solution-selling approach, ensuring customers benefit from tailored and technically sound solutions
• Identify and capitalize on growth opportunities across key industries, including Food & Beverage, Petrochemical, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, Energy, and other process industries
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with key accounts, consultants, EPCs, and strategic stakeholders across the region
• Contribute to regional and global strategic initiatives, supporting organizational development and long-term business expansion
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and effectively manage challenging situations to maintain strong and sustainable customer partnerships
• Ensure sales excellence through structured pipeline management, forecasting, budgeting, and performance monitoring
• Monitor market trends, customer requirements, and competitive developments to identify opportunities and maintain a strong market position
• Represent the company at customer meetings, industry events, and conferences throughout Australia and New Zealand
• Act as the key liaison to the headquarters and executive management, ensuring close collaboration with the global leadership team and the production hub to align regional growth initiatives with the company's long-term strategic objectives

To be successful in this role, you should have the following skills and experiences:

• Degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related discipline
• Proven track record in industrial B2B sales within process technologies, process equipment, flow control, thermal solutions, or related industries
• Extensive leadership experience with the ability to inspire, encourage, and develop high-performing sales organizations in a dynamic environment
• Strong strategic mindset combined with a hands-on and entrepreneurial approach
• Demonstrated success in driving business growth and increasing market penetration
• Deep understanding of local market dynamics and a passion for being actively involved in commercial activities and customer engagement
• Experience with solution selling and consultative sales approaches in complex technical environments
• Strong stakeholder management, negotiation, and conflict resolution capabilities
• Passion for developing people and building high-performing teams with a strong focus on long-term organizational success
• Experience serving customers in industries such as Food & Beverage, Petrochemical, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Energy, or comparable process industries
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage with stakeholders at all organizational levels
• Willingness to travel regularly within Australia and New Zealand