Managing Director

The background: 

Executive Heads has been retained by a leading electronics design and manufacturing business to appoint a new Managing Director.

Their customer-focused approach, strong relationships and reputation for quality and capability have given their customers peace of mind and security for the last twenty years.

Based in Basingstoke, Hampshire the business was started more than twenty-five years ago by the founder, owner and current Managing Director, who has a passion for electronics and saw an opportunity to combine quality and capability with a personal and bespoke approach.

Since then, the company has grown steadily into a business with a reputation for delivering quality via its main revenue streams of manufacturing and design.

They manufacture everything from one-off prototypes to volume production on-site. They have proven design experience in applications within a wide range of market sectors from small fully embedded designs to complicated industrial applications running Linux.

The team is committed to product design and manufacturing excellence; their aim is to ensure that at every stage their customers' experience exceeds their expectations.

The business employs circa 40 people, is fiscally well run and has a strong forward order book.

Purpose:

The Managing Director will take full responsibility for the operational management of the business including sales, engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and finance.

They will help to shape and drive the strategy, sales activity, and operations to ensure the company continues to grow and develop.

Other duties will include:

• Full responsibility for financial budgets, forecasting and P&L Management targeted towards revenue growth.
• Monitor and manage all areas of the business, setting targets and creating a best-in-class and integrated approach to performance and business operating systems.
• Create and implement a structured sales and marketing strategy that allows repeatable and controllable growth
• Create, implement, and develop processes and systems to drive efficiency and profitability into the organisation and allow for performance measurement and review
• Help to highlight opportunities for growth and promote the company where possible at meetings, events, and seminars
• Coach and develop the management team to create an effective Senior Leadership Team for the future.
• Develop a collegiate, high-performance culture and ensure the business has the right organisational design and capability for optimal performance.
• Create and provide timely and accurate reporting of performance to the board.
• Encourage and promote cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that the business operates as effectively as possible
• Support the sales team with large bids and tenders
• Available to attend meetings with new and existing customers to help build relationships, understand the client’s challenges, and support the sale of appropriate services
• Management and optimisation of capital equipment assets and footprint of the business with the view to overseeing and managing expansion or relocation of the business.

Person:

We are looking for someone with a demonstrable track record of successfully leading a business and delivering growth.

They will ideally have experience working in the manufacturing and electronics industries and an ability to oversee all areas of the business and a proven track record in sales and operational management with a hands-on, lead-from-the-front management style.

They will need to be a strategic thinker with an ability to shape and guide strategy, setting SMART aims and objectives to improve business performance. They should be team focused with an ability to challenge, coach and mentor the management team to create a high-performing culture. 

Finally, they need to be a skilled communicator who is comfortable talking through high-tech client requirements but equally at home talking to people in manufacturing, finance, and sales.

Attitudes and behaviours:

• Commercially focussed, dynamic, driven, and enthusiastic leader with an optimistic outlook.
• A gregarious, outgoing, authentic personality with an ability to lead the team and take the business on a journey.
• Target-driven, a goal-orientated individual with sound judgement and decision-making skills who is decisive and persistent.
• Strong sense of urgency and tenacity which is comfortable working under pressure.

Opportunity:

The company has established itself as a leading electronics design and manufacturing business over the last 20 years and the business is ready to kick on to the next level and grow significantly over the next five years.

The new Managing Director will have the opportunity to steer the strategy and take over the responsibility for day to day running of the business from the founder and owner.

The salary will be between £100,000 and £120,000 with a profit share bonus and a long-term incentive plan linked to the performance of the business.

Pension, holiday and flexible working are also provided as well as the tools required for the job i.e. laptop and mobile phone.