Managing Director Building Materials

Theopportunity

Our client is a fast-growing,diversified African Group with significant operations in Nigeria and ambitiousexpansion plans across several sectors.

One of its businesses is anestablished building materials trading and distribution company which isentering a major new phase of development.

Today, the business has astrong position in roofing materials. The ambition is now to transform it intoa much broader building and construction materials platform, progressivelyoffering a wide range of products required by builders, contractors, distributorsand construction companies.

The portfolio is alreadyexpanding beyond roofing into new categories including paints, constructionchemicals, adhesives and other building materials. Over time, selected productcategories may also offer opportunities for local manufacturing.

The company currently operateswith a lean team of approximately 40 people and is expected to growsignificantly.

The role

The Managing Director willhave overall responsibility for developing and running the business, with fullaccountability for its commercial performance and P&L.

This is anentrepreneur-operator role. The successful candidate will be expected not onlyto define where the business should go, but also to personally drive executionin an environment that is fast-moving, flexible and still evolving.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Define and execute the growth strategy for the business.
  
• Identify attractive new product categories based on market demand and opportunities within the construction ecosystem.
  
• Build a strong understanding of where to source the right products internationally, at the right quality, price and commercial terms.
  
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with international suppliers and sourcing partners.
  
• Expand the company's product portfolio beyond its current roofing base.
  
• Grow the customer and distributor network across Nigeria and, progressively, other West African markets.
  
• Drive revenue growth while maintaining disciplined pricing, margins and payment terms.
  
• Take full ownership of the P&L, cash generation and working capital.
  
• Manage an inventory-intensive business with strong discipline around stock, receivables and supplier terms.
  
• Strengthen the commercial, supply-chain and operational organisation as the business grows.
  
• Identify product categories that could ultimately justify local manufacturing.
  
• Build and lead a capable, accountable and commercially driven team.
  

The emphasis on supplierknowledge is crucial: the original charter already gives the MD responsibilityfor supplier relationships and sourcing, while the latest strategy shows anactive move into multiple internationally sourced product categories.

Requirements

The profile

We are looking for a seniorbusiness leader who brings:

• Significant experience in building materials / construction products in Nigeria.
  
• Strong knowledge of the Nigerian construction ecosystem, customers, distributors and market dynamics.
  
• Good knowledge of international suppliers and sourcing channels within building materials.
  
• A proven commercial and business-development track record.
  
• Experience expanding product portfolios, markets or distribution networks.
  
• Strong P&L and financial management capability.
  
• An ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
  
• Strong leadership and organisation-building skills.
  
• An entrepreneurial mindset and comfort operating with speed, ambiguity and limited structure.
  

Experience specifically inroofing is valuable but not essential. Broader building-materials expertise andthe ability to identify attractive products, suppliers and market opportunitiesare more important.

Benefits

Why thisopportunity?

This is not a conventionalcorporate MD position.

It offers the opportunity totake an existing business with a strong market base and shape what it becomesnext: broaden its portfolio, develop new supplier relationships, build newrevenue streams and progressively create a much larger building-materialsplatform.

The environment offersconsiderable autonomy, speed of decision-making and the opportunity to have avisible impact. In return, it requires flexibility, ownership and a willingnessto remain close to the business and execution.