Chief Executive Officer at Antal International

Key Responsibilities

• Business & P&L Leadership
  • Own the overall P&L and business performance for the Kenya market.
  • Develop and execute the company's overall business strategy in line with regional/global objectives.
  • Drive revenue growth, profitability, market share and long-term business sustainability.
  • Identify new growth opportunities across categories, channels, geographies and customer segments.
  • Ensure effective allocation of resources across key business priorities.
• Commercial & Sales Leadership
  • Lead the overall sales and commercial strategy across modern trade, general trade, distributors and other relevant channels.
  • Drive distribution expansion, outlet penetration, product availability and sales productivity.
  • Develop and strengthen relationships with key customers, distributors and strategic partners.
  • Review pricing, trade investments, margins and promotional effectiveness to maximise commercial returns.
  • Build a high-performance sales organisation with clear targets, accountability and performance metrics.
• Marketing & Brand Growth
  • Partner with the marketing team to develop and execute brand and category strategies aligned with local consumer needs.
  • Drive brand awareness, market penetration and consumer engagement across the portfolio.
  • Identify emerging consumer trends and translate them into new product, category and go-to-market opportunities.
  • Ensure effective execution of marketing investments and campaigns across relevant channels.
• Market Expansion & Route-to-Market
  • Develop strategies to strengthen the company's route-to-market and distribution network across Kenya.
  • Identify opportunities for geographic expansion and deeper market penetration.
  • Optimise distributor performance, channel economics and supply availability.
  • Evaluate new channels, partnerships and business models to accelerate growth.
• Operations & Supply Chain
  • Work closely with operations and supply chain teams to ensure product availability, service levels and cost efficiency.
  • Ensure alignment between demand planning, inventory, production/procurement and commercial requirements.
  • Drive operational improvements that support growth while protecting margins and working capital.
• Leadership & Organisation
  • Build, lead and develop a high-performing leadership team across sales, marketing, finance, operations, HR and supply chain.
  • Establish a culture of ownership, accountability, performance and continuous improvement.
  • Develop organisational capabilities required to support the company's growth ambitions.
  • Ensure effective succession planning and development of key talent.
• Stakeholder & Corporate Leadership
  • Represent the organisation with customers, distributors, regulators, industry bodies and other external stakeholders.
  • Build strong relationships with regional/global leadership and ensure alignment on strategic priorities.
  • Maintain strong governance, compliance and ethical business practices across the organisation.
  • Provide regular updates to the Board/Regional Leadership on business performance, risks and strategic initiatives.
• Business Transformation & Growth
  • Identify opportunities to improve business processes, productivity and profitability.
  • Lead strategic transformation initiatives across commercial, operational and organisational functions.
  • Evaluate potential partnerships, new categories, acquisitions or market expansion opportunities where relevant.
  • Drive a data-led approach to decision-making and performance management.

Candidate Requirements

• 16–22 years of overall professional experience, with significant experience in FMCG / Consumer Products.
• Proven experience in a senior P&L / business leadership role, ideally managing a country, business unit or sizeable market.
• Strong track record of delivering revenue growth, profitability and market expansion.
• Deep understanding of the Kenyan FMCG landscape, including distributors, general trade, modern trade and emerging channels.
• Strong experience across sales, distribution, commercial strategy and brand/marketing.
• Experience managing and developing large, cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of route-to-market, distributor management, pricing, trade marketing and channel strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a high-growth and entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance growth, profitability and operational efficiency.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with Board, regional/global leadership, customers and external partners.
• Strong strategic thinking combined with a hands-on, execution-oriented approach.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Management, Economics, Marketing or a related discipline; MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification would be an advantage.