Chief Executive Officer

Our client is a well-established, diversified group and market leader in the automotive space in Saudi Arabia. The organization plays a critical role in its sector and is recognized for operational scale, brand strength, and financial depth.

As part of its next phase of strategic growth and operational transformation, the group is seeking to appoint a Chief Executive Officer to join the executive leadership team. This role will partner directly with the Board of Directors to drive financial strategy, optimize capital structure, enhance governance, and support sustainable expansion across multiple business divisions.

This opportunity is suited to a commercially driven finance leader with experience in large-scale, multi-entity operations and strong exposure to working capital-intensive environments.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Automotive Dealership Group (KSA)

Overview

A leading automotive dealership group in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is seeking a dynamic and commercially driven Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization through its next phase of growth, operational excellence, and digital transformation.

The CEO will be responsible for driving profitability, strengthening OEM partnerships, expanding market share, and positioning the business as a leading mobility solutions provider in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the company’s long-term strategy across vehicle sales, aftersales, and mobility services
• Align business strategy with Vision 2030, including localization, digitization, and sustainability initiatives
• Identify new revenue streams (EVs, fleet solutions, leasing, mobility platforms, etc.)

Commercial & Financial Performance

• Deliver top-line growth and optimize EBITDA across all business units
• Drive vehicle sales (retail, fleet, government) while maximizing aftersales profitability
• Ensure strong working capital management, inventory optimization, and cost discipline
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance tracking

OEM & Partner Management

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with global automotive OEMs
• Negotiate favorable commercial terms, distribution rights, and performance incentives
• Ensure compliance with OEM standards across showrooms, service centers, and brand representation

Operational Excellence

• Optimize dealership operations across sales, service, parts, and logistics
• Drive performance improvement initiatives across the branch network
• Enhance customer experience and retention through best-in-class service delivery

Digital Transformation & Innovation

• Lead digitalization across sales channels, CRM, and aftersales platforms
• Implement data-driven decision-making and performance dashboards
• Explore e-commerce, online car sales, and integrated mobility ecosystems

People & Culture

• Build and lead a high-performing executive team
• Drive a performance-oriented culture with strong governance and accountability
• Develop Saudi national talent in line with Saudization requirements

Governance & Stakeholder Management

• Report directly to the Board of Directors and shareholders
• Ensure strong corporate governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks
• Represent the company with regulators, government entities, and key stakeholders

Candidate Profile

Experience

• 15–20+ years of experience in automotive, mobility, or related sectors
• Proven CEO / Managing Director / GM experience within a large dealership group or automotive distributor
• Strong track record of delivering growth and profitability in complex, multi-branch operations
• Experience working with international OEMs is essential
• Prior experience in the GCC / Saudi Arabia is highly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen with deep understanding of dealership economics (sales, aftersales, parts)
• Strategic thinker with hands-on operational leadership capability
• Expertise in turnaround, scaling, or transformation environments
• Strong financial literacy and performance management skills
• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills
• Visionary yet execution-focused
• High resilience and adaptability in a fast-evolving market
• Strong people leadership and cultural intelligence
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on innovation