QLM Search is recruiting a CEO to lead a strategic buy-and-build programme within the food manufacturing sector across the DACH region .
This is a senior leadership role with full autonomy and a clear mandate from the Investment Board to drive operational scale, commercial value creation, and long-term sustainable growth.
Key Responsibilities:
* Provide full strategic and operational leadership across multiple sites in the DACH region, with complete P&L ownership and accountability for performance delivery
* Shape and execute a long-term growth agenda, balancing organic expansion with M&A opportunities to establish a high-performing, scalable platform
* Leverage deep commercial and financial acumen from within the mid-sized food or dairy manufacturing space to inform strategic decision-making and identify levers for value creation
* Develop and implement innovative initiatives to drive revenue growth, margin enhancement, and product innovation across all customer channels
* Build a lean, agile operating culture, focused on continuous improvement, waste reduction, and operational excellence
* Lead post-acquisition integration activity, ensuring cultural alignment, operational synergy, and sustained delivery of strategic objectives
* Drive a high-performing supply chain, ensuring agility, scalability, and efficiency to support growth across the region
* Establish a strong leadership team and empower a culture of accountability, engagement, and high performance at all levels of the organisation
* Act as the primary interface between the business and its investors, providing clear visibility and strategic insights to the Investment Board
Candidate Profile:
* A proven track record of operating as a Managing Director / CEO within a high growth food or dairy manufacturing business
* Demonstrable experience of value creation, business transformation, and profitable growth in a fast-paced, operationally complex environment
* Deep understanding of the DACH food production market, with a strong reputation and relevant industry network
* Strong leadership capability with a track record of building and developing high-performing executive teams
* Commercially sharp, operationally hands-on, and highly credible in board-level settings