Placement

This position has already been successfully completed (please do not apply).

703

Managing Director (m/w/d)


By the decision of the mother company in Japan there will be two Managing Directors for the German subsidiary, one of them deployed by the Japanese mother company and the other one being placed as Managing Director. All local business operations will be directed by the latter .
    
Company    

German subsidiary of a Japanese Company.
Plants are located in: Japan, Asia, USA, EU
Number of employees: 14 in Germany / 5,886 worldwide
Annual turnover: 1,39 billion € (consolidated) as of March 2011
The Headquarter of the company is situated near Frankfurt am Main and has recently set up a Sales Office in Wolfsburg (in September 2011) aiming at the expansion and strengthening of the business with VW and its subsidiaries

Job Profil

Reason for the vacancy    

Until now the company has limited itself to import and sales of products manufactured in the Asian production targeting the German automotive industry (Being a supplier for e.g. Tier 1). But the real objective of this business was getting into providing everything from design to manufacture and supply of products for the German automotive OEMs. By opening the door to the VW-related business, our client has paved the way for a full-scale development of the German automotive OEM business. Our customer now wants to further develop and deepen the German car OEM business and therefore place a Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) at the German subsidiary who will be in charge of local operations and make it his mission to directly put into action the strategic vision for the attainment of these goals.
    
Objectives of the job    
  • Management of the company with focus on German Automobile OEMs and Tier1 business. Consistent development of the individual business divisions as well as the company as a whole
  • Planning, management and strategic development of the company in agreement with the HQ in Japan
  • Employee and budget responsibility

Main tasks    
  • To define the business / corporate strategy as well as product strategies
  • Operative management and coordination of structure & administration of the German subsidiaries in Eschborn and Wolfsburg in cooperation with the executive office in Japan
  • Attainment of objectives such as profitability (sales, turnover, cost and earnings figures), high service quality and customer satisfaction
  • Drafting of quarterly and annual business plans
  • Controlling and reporting
  • To represent the company to the key customers
  • To manage and develop the teams at the two German subsidiaries
  • To lead, motivate and develop the staff
  • Constant monitoring and analysis of local market and competitors
  • To explore and actively develop new customer segments

Position within the company hierarchy    
  • The owner of the position reports to the Board Management of the Japanese mother company in Tokyo / Japan
    
Team work with    
  • Closely working together with Managing Directors of subsidiaries in UK, Spain and Poland

Travelling    
  • Europe: Wolfsburg, Poland, Spain, UK
  • Asien: Japan, China

Frequency (on average)    
  • Wolfsburg: once a month
  • Europe: twice a month
  • Asia: twice a year
 
Requirements profile

Education    
  • Technical university degree or university degree in business administration or comparable education
    
Professional experiences        
  • Management experience (e.g. as Head of Sales OR Customer Service Department with accountability for results) at an automotive components manufacturer/supplier (Tier1/Tier2/Tier3)
    
Special skills
   
Mandatory
  • Management experience at an automotive components manufacturer/supplier (Tier1/Tier2/Tier3)

Not a must, but most welcome
  • Proven track record in managing smaller-sized sales / distribution units or sales offices
    
Experience in leadership    
  • Excellent management and leadership skills
  • Long-term experience in management positions in medium-sized companies (as head of department/division)
    
Languages 
  • German: Mother tongue
  • English: Business fluent
    
Personal skills
  • Strong intercultural communication skills (= Capacity to adapt oneself to the way of thinking of a Japanese company)
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Confident appearance
  • Reliable negotiation skills
  • Entrepreneurial spirit
  • Hands-on approach
  • Results-oriented and highly effective
  • Able to organize processes efficiently
  • Commitment and reponsibility
  • Able to be a positive role model for other employees
  • High level of flexibility, personal initiative and enthusiasm