Country Managing Director – Japan. Logistics, Maritime & Port Services
Location: Japan
Function: Country Leadership / Commercial Growth / Logistics & Maritime Services
About the Role
Our client, a leading global provider of logistics, maritime and port services, is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Country Managing Director – Japan to lead the next phase of growth of its Japanese business.
The Japan operation is supported by a highly experienced, capable and stable team, with the existing core business already well managed. This is therefore not a turnaround role or a mandate simply to maintain the existing operation.
The principal opportunity for the new Managing Director is to diversify and expand the book of business.
The successful candidate will build on the strength of the existing organisation, identifying new customers, markets and revenue streams while expanding the company's presence across logistics, shipping, port agency and related maritime services.
The Mandate
The Country Managing Director will have overall responsibility for the Japan business, with particular emphasis on:
- Diversifying the existing book of business
- Developing new customers and principals
- Opening new markets and service areas
- Expanding beyond the company's traditional business base
- Identifying opportunities across logistics and adjacent maritime services
- Growing revenue while protecting the strength of the established core business
- Providing leadership and support to an already strong and stable Japan team
- Leveraging the company's global network and reputation to accelerate growth in Japan
The emphasis is therefore firmly on commercial development and business building, rather than day-to-day intervention in an established and well-functioning operation.
Key Growth Areas
Potential areas for expansion include:
- Logistics Services
- Bulk Agency
- Tanker Agency
- Cruise
- Port Agency & Husbanding Services
- Project, Breakbulk & Bulk Cargo
- Crew Change & Vessel Support Services
- Warehousing & Spare Parts Logistics
- Freight Forwarding & Customs Solutions
- Related Maritime and Supply Chain Services
Candidate Profile
We are seeking an established executive from the logistics, shipping, maritime, port services or freight forwarding industry with significant experience in Japan.
The successful candidate is likely to bring:
- Strong business development and commercial leadership capability
- A proven record of diversifying and growing a book of business
- Experience opening new customers, markets or service lines
- Senior leadership experience within logistics, shipping or related industries
- Country Manager, Managing Director, General Manager, Business Unit Head or equivalent experience
- P&L, budgeting and financial management experience
- Strong customer and industry relationships in Japan
- Ability to identify and commercialise adjacent business opportunities
- Credibility to lead an experienced and established management team
- Strong understanding of the Japanese business environment
- Experience working successfully within an international organisation
- Fluent Japanese and strong business English
Leadership Profile
This is fundamentally a growth and diversification mandate.
Our client already has an experienced team capable of managing and delivering the established business. The new Managing Director therefore needs to bring something additional: the ability to look beyond the existing customer and service portfolio and identify where the business can go next.
We are particularly interested in leaders who can open doors, create opportunities, build relationships and convert those relationships into sustainable new revenue, while giving an established team the leadership and freedom to continue performing successfully.
The Opportunity
This is an opportunity to take leadership of a stable and established Japan operation with a strong existing team, rather than inherit a business requiring restructuring.
The challenge — and opportunity — is to use that platform to build something larger: diversify the customer base, expand the service portfolio and develop new areas of profitable growth in Japan.
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