Interim Turnaround Managing Director – Manufacturing
East Midlands Area | £100–125k + Completion Bonus
Axel Monroe are pleased to be supporting an SME private equity-backed manufacturing business with the appointment of an Interim Managing Director to lead a meaningful turnaround of the business.
The company is currently generating turnover of less than £5m and is operating in a loss-making position. Backed by an engaged investor group, the business is entering a critical phase where decisive leadership, commercial focus and strategic execution are required to improve performance and create a sustainable platform for growth.
The appointed Interim Managing Director will take full ownership of the business, leading the development and execution of a turnaround strategy focused on increasing revenue, improving profitability and driving operational effectiveness. Whilst there will be a broad remit across the organisation, the immediate priority is accelerating top-line growth and ensuring the business is maximising its market opportunity.
This role requires a commercially astute leader with a strong understanding of product-to-market fit and the ability to identify, unlock and scale revenue opportunities. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a hands-on SME environment, balancing strategic decision-making with day-to-day execution and leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and deliver a comprehensive turnaround plan focused on revenue growth and profitability improvement.
- Evaluate and refine the commercial strategy to improve product positioning, customer acquisition and market penetration.
- Drive sales performance through existing and new channels, identifying opportunities to accelerate growth.
- Review the operational structure and cost base to ensure the business is positioned for long-term success.
- Build credibility with stakeholders, including the private equity investors, providing clear reporting against agreed objectives and milestones.
- Create a culture of accountability, pace and performance across the organisation.
- Identify and implement initiatives that improve both short-term trading performance and long-term value creation.
Candidate Profile:
- Proven experience operating at Managing Director, General Manager or equivalent senior leadership level.
- Strong track record of leading businesses through turnaround, transformation or accelerated growth situations.
- Experience within a high-value, low-margin manufacturing environment is essential.
- Previous leadership experience within SME businesses where a hands-on approach is required.
- Private Equity-backed experience is highly desirable, with an appreciation of investor expectations and value creation plans.
- Demonstrable success in accelerating top-line growth through commercial strategy, market development and sales leadership.
- Strong understanding of product-to-market fit and the ability to translate market opportunities into sustainable revenue streams.
- Commercially driven, decisive and capable of delivering results within tight timeframes.
The next six months represent a pivotal period for the business, making this an ideal opportunity for an experienced interim executive who thrives in challenging environments and enjoys delivering measurable impact at pace. There is also the potential for the role to transition into a permanent appointment for the right individual, subject to performance and business requirements.
For a confidential discussion, please contact Axel Monroe – we will endeavour to respond to every application but if you haven’t heard from us within 7 days, you will have unfortunately been unsuccessful on this occassion.
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