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Current search: Managing Director Japan, based in Nagoya
Our client is a €500 million, privately owned global leader in engineered industrial solutions with a strong international presence and a reputation for innovation and customer partnership.
The Japan business operates as a high-impact regional sales subsidiary within a global matrix organization and provides a strong commercial platform for business growth across high-tech sectors
The company is looking for a senior commercial leader who can guide the next stage of growth in Japan, strengthen customer acquisition, build a high-performing sales organization, and support strong alignment between the Japan business, APAC leadership, and Group headquarters.
Role Overview
As Managing Director Japan, you will lead and develop the Japanese sales subsidiary with full commercial accountability. While the role carries the title of Managing Director, the main focus is sales leadership, market development, and profitable growth rather than full general management.
The position will take full responsibility for annual revenue, with a clear focus on sustainable growth, market share, customer acquisition, and strong execution of the Group strategy in Japan. Based in Nagoya, the role will also involve close collaboration with Group headquarters, direct reporting to the Head of APAC, and legal and statutory representation of the Japan entity within defined business limits and aligned with HQ governance.
Your Responsibilities
- Sales leadership and growth: Take responsibility for annual revenue, with a clear focus on sustainable and profitable growth across the Japanese market.
- Market development: Execute the Group strategy in Japan to increase profitability, market share, and customer acquisition.
- Team leadership and key accounts: Lead sales teams, manage key accounts, strengthen commercial performance, and build a high-performing sales organization.
- Reporting and forecasting: Reporting to the APAC sales leadership team, supporting transparent performance reporting, forecasting, and market analysis.
- Group collaboration: Work closely with Group headquarters to support consistent strategy execution and efficient resource use.
- Legal and statutory representation: Represent the Japan entity within defined business limits, aligned with HQ governance.
Ideal Candidate Profile
- Degree in Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, or a comparable field.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in industrial B2B sales.
- Proven track record in leading sales teams and managing key accounts with full profit responsibility.
- Strong leadership capabilities with a proven ability to build high-performing sales organizations while effectively navigating Japanese business culture.
- Business-fluent Japanese and English communication skills, spoken and written.
- Experience in industrial technology solutions and systems.
- A leadership profile that combines commercial strength, sales leadership, customer focus, key account management, and the ability to work effectively across Japanese and international business environments.
Interested in learning more about this position? Please send your CV to Jonathan Falconer at jf@fespartners.com or Charisma Dacua at charisma@fespartners.com.