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CEO - Agribusiness

Valencia, Valencian Community Permanent View Job Description
We are looking for an agribusiness CEO who can build a strong team and drive profitable organic growth, while developing a trading platform and selectively using M&A and capex to scale the business.
  • Transformation and expansion project
  • Fresh Produce (Citrus) + Emerging Trading Platform

About Our Client

International company with operations in Spain

Job Description

Lead the business to become a scaled, professionally run agribusiness platform combining:

  • profitable organic growth in citrus
  • a growing trading business (buy/sell, sourcing, arbitrage)
  • cost leadership via operational excellence and targeted capex
  • selective M&A to accelerate scale and integration



Strategic Priorities (in order)

  1. Build a High-Performance Leadership Team
  • Hire and develop:
    • COO / Operations Director
    • Head of Trading / Commercial
    • strong second layer
  • Create clear ownership, accountability, and decision rights
  • Remove CEO dependency from daily operations

  1. Drive Profitable Organic Growth
  • Improve:
    • yield, planning accuracy, and throughput
    • customer profitability (mix, pricing discipline)
  • Strengthen relationships with major retailers
  • Expand volumes without margin dilution

  1. Build & Scale a Trading Business
  • Develop sourcing beyond own production:
    • third-party growers
    • international sourcing (when relevant)
  • Build capabilities in:
    • pricing & margin management
    • supply balancing (own vs. traded volume)
  • Establish company as a reliable trading partner



This requires commercial sharpness + risk awareness

  1. Operational Excellence & Cost Leadership (via Capex)
  • Lead modernization of:
    • packhouses (automation, sorting, grading)
  • Improve:
    • cost per kg
    • labor productivity
    • waste reduction
  • Drive decisions on capex allocation and ROI

  1. Selective Buy & Build (Enabler, not driver)
  • Acquire:
    • fincas (production assets)
    • selective add-ons (packing, trading, logistics)
  • Focus on:
    • integration into platform
    • operational synergies
  • Avoid "deal-driven" behavior

The Successful Applicant

  1. Agribusiness / Fresh Produce Background
  • Direct exposure to:
    • citrus / fruit / fresh produce
    • OR adjacent perishable food environments



Must understand:

  • seasonality
  • quality variability
  • operational reality

  1. Proven Team Builder
  • Built and led a strong second management layer
  • Track record of:
    • hiring strong operators
    • delegating effectively
    • developing leaders

  1. Commercial & Trading Mindset
  • Experience in:
    • trading / sourcing / distribution
    • managing margins, not just volumes
  • Ability to balance:
    • own production vs. traded volumes

  1. Operational Depth (without micromanagement)
  • Strong understanding of:
    • packhouse operations
    • supply chain & logistics
  • Manages via:
    • KPIs
    • systems
    • team

  1. Scaling Mid-Sized Businesses
  • Experience growing:
    • €30M → €70M+
  • Professionalizing structures and processes

Nice to Have

  • M&A / integration experience
  • capex-heavy transformation projects
  • Private Equity exposure

Background

  • Ideally Spanish or strong Spain experience
  • Alternatively:
    • European (DE/NL/FR) with proven Southern Europe success
  • Languages:
    • Spanish (required)
    • English (required)



What's on Offer

An exciting professional challenge in the fresh produce sector with strong growth potential

Contact
Cecilia Okiñena
Quote job ref
JN-052026-7009813

Job summary

Function
CEO – Chief Executive Officer
Subsector
CEO – Chief Executive Officer Subsector
Industry
Consumer & Retail
Location
Valencia
Contract type
Permanent
Consultant name
Cecilia Okiñena
Job reference
JN-052026-7009813
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Page Executive
Cecilia Okiñena LinkedIn
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Cecilia is a headhunter for C-level and Director recruitment within FMCG/Consumer Goods. She expertly identifies General Managers, CFOs, and senior professionals for Spanish and multinational businesses.

Read more about Cecilia Okiñena

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