CEO (m/f/d) Pakistan

Departer, a renowned German Executive Search firm with over 20 years of expertise in global leadership recruitment, is partnering with a well-established European industrial technology group to find a senior CEO for its Pakistani operations. This client has a strong international presence and has been successfully operating in Pakistan for more than six decades, employing around 600 people. The business combines a robust commercial setup with manufacturing capabilities, serving a wide range of industrial customers across the country. The CEO will be based in Lahore and will hold full entrepreneurial responsibility for the Pakistani business, overseeing all functions including sales, operations, manufacturing, engineering, finance, and business support. This role requires a strategic yet hands-on leader who can drive growth, strengthen market position, and operate effectively within an international group structure.

Key Responsibilities

- Assume full entrepreneurial and P&L responsibility for the Pakistani business, driving commercial performance, strategic development, and sustainable growth.
- Lead and develop an organization of approximately 600 employees across multiple functions such as sales, manufacturing, engineering, finance, and business support.
- Define and execute the business strategy for Pakistan, ensuring alignment with regional and global objectives.
- Strengthen the company’s market position and expand its customer base through close collaboration with the Sales Director and Sales Managers.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, business partners, and external stakeholders.
- Ensure seamless coordination between sales, manufacturing, operations, engineering, and administration to optimize performance.
- Lead and mentor the local management team, providing clear strategic and operational guidance.
- Take overall responsibility for the company’s operational and financial results.
- Represent the company as CEO in interactions with customers, partners, authorities, and other stakeholders in Pakistan.
- Serve as a member of the local Board, collaborating closely with the Board and Regional Management on governance, strategy, and business matters.
- Manage the interface between the Pakistani organization, Regional Management, and European headquarters within a complex international matrix structure.
- Maintain transparent communication and alignment across senior internal stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with corporate governance standards and group policies.
- Foster organizational development while preserving the company’s culture, long-term employee relationships, and local market expertise.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- Several years of successful senior executive management experience, with a proven track record of leading sizeable organizations across multiple business functions.
- Strong commercial orientation with substantial experience in sales, business development, and customer-facing leadership roles.
- Demonstrated P&L and overall business responsibility, ideally within an industrial B2B environment.
- Experience managing and developing sales teams and senior commercial leaders.
- Solid technical understanding and confidence operating in an engineering-driven industrial business.
- Experience working within internationally structured organizations, including global or regional headquarters.
- Strong knowledge of matrix organizations, headquarters reporting, and complex stakeholder management.
- Proven ability to work effectively across different cultures in an international business context.
- Fluency in English and Urdu is essential.
- Mature, hands-on, and collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust and lead by example.
- Strong executive presence combined with an approachable and respectful management approach.
- Ability to engage effectively with experienced, long-serving teams through active listening and supportive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

- Previous international or overseas experience is highly desirable, especially for candidates returning to Pakistan.

This leadership opportunity offers the chance to lead a well-established organization with a strong local footprint while contributing to its future growth within a sophisticated international group. The role demands a strategic, commercially minded CEO who can balance global standards with local market dynamics.