General Manager - Family owned company, Varese

Varese, Lombardy Permanent View Job Description
A rare opportunity to take the helm of a solid, globally recognised Italian manufacturer, accelerating its growth and guiding its managerial evolution within a dynamic, family owned entrepreneurial environment
  • GM with strong background in export management ready to lead a growing business
  • Global market leader in a highly specialized construction installer segment

About Our Client

Italian, global market leader, recognized for manufacturing and distribution of engineered equipment and solutions used by professional construction end-users, exporting in more than 100 countries.

Job Description

The next General Manager, reporting to the Board, will be in charge of the following tasks:

  • Own and manage the full P&L, ensuring profitability targets, margin delivery, and disciplined cost control.
  • Define with the owners, the commercial strategy, annual business plan for Italy and international markets.
  • Lead the internal and external sales organization, representing the company with key customers, distributors, agents, and commercial partners.
  • Develop and strengthen multi-country distribution networks, ensuring coverage, partner performance, and premium positioning.
  • Identify new business opportunities while consolidating and upgrading relationships with existing customers (including reactivating selected historical accounts where potential remains).
  • Analyse market trends and "micro-evolutions", translating insights into actionable initiatives (pricing, channel priorities, product focus).
  • Identify critical areas and implement improvement actions, including selective outsourcing where it increases speed, cost efficiency, or quality.
  • Work closely with R&D and Design to support product evolution, protect differentiation, and accelerate development cycles.
  • Assess and guide key make/buy and sourcing decisions (e.g., internal vs external production, international supply options) in line with business needs.
  • Drive a managerialization roadmap: clarify roles, strengthen routines, improve cross-functional collaboration, and build a scalable operating model.

The Successful Applicant

You are a commercially strong, hands-on leader with proven ability to manage international partners and drive structured growth in a product-driven industrial environment, with preferably:

  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience); additional qualifications are a plus.
  • Proven commercial leadership experience, including management of international distributors/agents/partners.
  • Background in building material or equipment companies with premium positioning.
  • Experience with P&L management, budgeting, and business planning.
  • Strong strategic thinking combined with pragmatic execution; comfortable operating in a fast-moving market.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
  • Leadership and team development capabilities; collaborative, pragmatic style (low ego, high accountability).
  • Willingness to travel internationally regulars

What's on Offer

  • A pivotal leadership role with full business responsibility and direct Board exposure.
  • The opportunity to accelerate growth and international development within a long-term oriented European group.
  • A solid, profitable manufacturing context with strong brand reputation, innovation capability, and global reach.
  • A structured handover and a clear mandate to professionalize processes while preserving entrepreneurial agility.



If you are ready to take on a challenging and rewarding leadership role, we encourage you to apply today.

Unless you are applying for positions reserved for protected categories under Law 68/99 (in which case we only ask you to confirm that you belong to these categories, without any further information on your health or disability), your CV must not contain any information relating to your health status or to your belonging to a protected category, as this is not relevant to the assessment of your application.

Contact
Nicolò Zanelli
Quote job ref
JN-122025-6905425

Job summary

Function
CEO – Chief Executive Officer
Subsector
CEO – Chief Executive Officer Subsector
Industry
Industrial
Location
Varese
Contract type
Permanent
Consultant name
Nicolò Zanelli
Job reference
JN-122025-6905425

About Page Executive

Page Executive are inclusive Recruiters and Hirers, as reflected in our Clear Assured Platinum Standard Accreditation from the Clear Company. We are passionate about attracting diverse talent and are committed to ensuring our processes are inclusive and supportive.