European Union
Our client, an exciting PE-backed global manufacturing business is currently seeking an experienced Chief Transformation Officer. This is a pivotal, highly visible role for someone who thrives on pace and complexity. The business is more nuanced than it may first appear, and this is not a role for someone expecting a straightforward, formulaic turnaround.
You will work closely with the CEO, PE Operating Partners, and deal team to understand what good looks like, identifying value levers across the organisation and building a clear, prioritised view of where value creation opportunities sit, whether through commercial growth, cost efficiency, AI, portfolio optimisation, pricing, or operational improvement. This isn't just about spotting opportunities on paper; you will need to test and validate them with the business, build the case for where to invest time and resource first, and turn that thinking into a practical roadmap the wider leadership team can get behind. Success here goes beyond profitability alone, and you will need a rigorous approach to thinking that balances commercial ambition with sustainable fundamentals.
You will bring genuine manufacturing experience and be comfortable operating in a PE-backed environment, having supported a business through a similar stage of its journey. Experience leveraging AI to drive efficiency and insight will be valued, as will a natural ability to connect people and teams across a complex, multi-site organisation, coordinating effectively across programme management and functional teams.
Our client is looking for someone capable of hitting the ground running with minimal onboarding, and who brings energy and momentum to everyone around them. You will need to be a natural collaborator with low ego, able to build integration support across functions and geographies while maintaining strong working relationships at every level, including with the board and investors. This is a transformation-heavy mandate, so a track record of leading meaningful change programmes is essential.
Given the scale and pace of the business, you should be open to extensive ongoing travel, particularly during the first six months. They have key European sites in Germany and the Netherlands, and US travel will also be necessary. If you are energised by change, enjoy rolling up your sleeves, and want to help shape the next chapter of a business with real momentum behind it, we would love to hear from you.
Availability at short notice would be ideal, but they may wait for the right person.