Managing director, emea & apac

At Justrite Safety Group, we are a dynamic organization dedicated to protecting people, property, and the planet. Our portfolio of companies collaborates to deliver advanced industrial safety solutions that set the standard for excellence. As we grow, we seek top talent to join our team as we lead in revolutionizing industrial safety, ensuring every worker returns home safe, every workplace remains secure, and our environment thrives for generations to come. Safety is not just a priority—it's our passion.

The Managing Director (MD) for Justrite in the EMEA & APAC Regions will have full Profit & Loss responsibility and oversee all functional departments, accountability for all key KPIs across the business. This role includes responsibility for the organization’s sales teams and commercial execution, marketing and product management, pricing, operations and manufacturing, customer service (including its technology), acquisition strategy, and organizational people strategy.

The position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and maintains important dotted-line relationships with Justrite’s Senior Executive team, including the Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

The Managing Director is accountable for the overall financial performance, sales, and operational outcomes of the business. The successful candidate will drive sales growth that exceeds market growth rates through strategic initiatives and strong leadership of the commercial team, which includes sales, customer service, product management, and engineering.

The primary focus will be on achieving growth and maximizing market share with both distributors and end-users. The ideal candidate will be a business transformation leader with a proven ability to identify opportunities within a manufacturing environment and implement measurable improvements, with a strong emphasis on commercial strategy and execution. This leader will also identify and pursue suitable M&A targets to complement organic growth plans.

This is a critical leadership role requiring a strategic and operational executive with strong business acumen — someone capable of managing a complex P&L, identifying risks and opportunities, and delivering on ambitious growth targets.

The MD will be responsible for delivering annual operational plan commitments, driving sustainable growth and operational excellence, and building a high-performing regional organization aligned with Justrite’s global vision and long-term objectives.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in strategy development, including direct and channel sales management, with a proven ability to align operations with business goals to achieve measurable results. They must be a growth-oriented leader with a bias for action — able to lead transformational change and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and performance.

Given the complexity of the business, success in this role requires a problem-solving mindset, effective collaboration across functions and regions, and a keen eye for talent— capable of attracting, assessing, and developing high-performing individuals to build a world-class team.

Our Executive Team brings together a diverse group of leaders with deep expertise, vision, and a shared commitment to driving growth and innovation. Each member contributes unique experience and perspective, ensuring we approach challenges and opportunities with agility and collaboration.

Together, this team provides strategic direction, fosters a culture of accountability, and empowers our people to achieve excellence. With a focus on integrity, innovation, and long-term value creation, the Executive Team is dedicated to guiding the organization toward sustainable success while staying true to our mission and values.

• Functional Strategy Formation – Lead the development and implementation of strategy for an important area of responsibility within a function, anticipating complex issues, challenges, and opportunities, and ensuring integration with wider functional strategy.
• Leadership and Direction – Identify and communicate the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the business area or department; explain the relationship to the broader organization's mission, vision and values; motivate people to commit to these and to doing extraordinary things to achieve local business goals.
• Business Planning – Develop and propose annual business plans for a given area or department, ensuring alignment with strategy. Recommend financial and headcount budgets; propose business targets (e.g., revenues or other KPIs); and schedule key activities/projects, ensuring integration with other elements of the organization. Manage budget plans.
• Operations Management – Manage a significant operational area for the organization.
• Improvement/Innovation – Initiate, formulate and implement new business practices within a specific discipline while managing the development and/or delivery of a significant element of the organization's change management program.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Identify and manage stakeholders up to management level, finding out their needs/issues/concerns and reacting to these by leading and coordinating the development of stakeholder engagement plans to support the communication of business information and decisions.
• Performance Management – Manage and report on performance within the department or area of responsibility; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports and hold them accountable for achieving these; take appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of annual business objectives.
• Organization Structure – Contribute to the definition of organization structure by recommending reporting lines, identifying interfaces between elements of the organization, and recommending roles and responsibilities, to align with the corporate structure and organization principles.
• Organizational Capability Building – Evaluate the capabilities of staff within the department to identify gaps and prioritize development activities. Implement the organization's formal development frameworks within the area of responsibility. Coach and mentor others to support the development of the organization's talent pool.

To ensure your success from day one in this role, Justrite requires the following qualifications at a minimum:

The Managing Director will be a high-impact, commercially savvy business leader responsible for driving the next wave of growth and executing the overall business strategy for the EMEA & APAC business unit. This role demands a proven track record of profitable growth, strategic leadership, and operational excellence within a global industrial environment. The successful candidate will have demonstrated success in leading large teams, and managing complex, cross-functional projects across global markets. He/she will bring at least 15 years of progressive business leadership experience, ideally within a large, global industrial company.

• P&L Responsibility & General Business Acumen:
  • Demonstrated full P&L responsibility, preferably within the €50–100 million range, with a strong ability to understand and lead business operations, identifying key risks and growth opportunities.
• Strategic Commercial Leadership & Business Growth:
  • Proven track record in driving sales and leading commercial functions for profitable growth. Skilled in developing and executing strategic initiatives, managing direct and channel sales, and aligning operations with business goals to deliver results.
• Transformation Experience:
  • Proven track record in leading large-scale transformations with a strong bias for action. Skilled in spotting strategic opportunities, aligning teams, and executing complex change for measurable impact in ambiguous environments.
• Operations Management:
  • Experience in a management role involving direct oversight and accountability for operational functions, as well as fostering collaboration between teams to drive operational success.
• Relevant Industry/Sector Experience:
  • Experience in a business operating under the industrial supply (MRO – Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) model, offering a wide range of standard SKUs (non-customized products), not necessarily within the Safety sector.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field required; MBA or equivalent advanced qualification preferred.
• Language Skills: Fluency in English required; proficiency in additional European languages (e.g., Italian, German, French, Dutch) is a plus.
• Private equity experience is advantageous: Strong sense of urgency, creativity in problem-solving, and a decisive, hands-on leadership style are essential.

The position offers a competitive base salary and will be eligible to participate in the Justrite Sales Incentive Plan which offers a big opportunity to enhance the total compensation package.

Our benefits package at Justrite Safety Group is designed to be the best in the industry, offering everything you need to support your career and personal well-being. You will receive a competitive salary and benefits package. We understand the importance of work-life balance, so we offer flexible hours and remote work options, giving you the freedom to manage your time effectively. These options vary depending on the specific roles and business needs. At Justrite, our benefits package is designed to help you thrive both in and out of the workplace.

As a leading name in the safety industry, Justrite provides a platform where you can collaborate with some of the best professionals in the field, learning from experts and contributing to cutting-edge solutions. The company's commitment to excellence and innovation ensures that you’ll be part of a team that is making a real impact. With a strong focus on career advancement, Justrite empowers its employees to thrive both personally and professionally, making it an ideal workplace for those looking to grow their careers in a meaningful and rewarding environment.

Join us and be part of a team dedicated to product excellence and making a positive impact in our company and in our community!