Head of Sales- Food

About The Company

Our client is a market leader in the global FMCG food space, recognized for its legacy in premium staples. With robust manufacturing capabilities, a strong focus on R&D, and a wide-reaching distribution network, the organization is deeply committed to quality, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Role Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and seasoned sales leader to head our International Division operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This role is critical in driving revenue, increasing market share, and building a high-performance commercial and sales structure in the region. The ideal candidate will be a go-getter with a proven track record in P&L management, distributor networks, and multi-channel sales within the FMCG food sector, especially across the GCC region.

Key Responsibilities Sales & Business Strategy

• Own the sales strategy and execution across KSA for Retail (GT, MT), HORECA, and Online channels.
• Achieve top-line and bottom-line targets, manage the full P&L for the region.
• Appoint and manage distributors; drive effective trade marketing and promotional planning.
• Develop and implement annual operating plans (AOP) and budget forecasts.
• Identify areas for revenue growth, cost savings, and process improvements.
• Drive new product development and market entry initiatives.
• Liaise with government bodies and manage tender businesses (e.g., Municipality, Ministry of Economy).

Market & Customer Development

• Ensure strong market presence and retail shelf offtake for flagship products.
• Expand footprint by onboarding new distributors, renegotiating agreements, and replacing underperforming partners.
• Deepen engagement with modern trade buyers and drive numeric/weighted distribution.
• Establish strong feedback systems for market intelligence, consumer preferences, and competition.

People & Operations Leadership

• Build, lead, and retain a high-performing sales team.
• Set up robust systems and sales processes from the ground up.
• Manage day-to-day administrative and operational tasks.
• Mentor internal teams and distributor salesforce for capability development.
• Align with global HQ, legal, supply chain, and plant operations for seamless business execution.

Required Qualifications

• Strong leadership and commercial acumen with exposure to distributor/trading-led models.
• Familiar with large-scale retail negotiations (MT, GT, TT).
• Deep understanding of the GCC markets and consumer behavior.
• Exposure to MENA and North Africa markets preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in transformation initiatives - people, process, and systems.
• Hands-on leader with strong analytical and numerical aptitude.
• Able to operate in lean and flat organizational structures.

Skills: trade marketing, strategy, multi-channel sales, promotional planning, analytical skills, retail negotiations, market intelligence, operations, consumer preferences, business development, sales, P&L management, distributor networks, FMCG, leadership