General Manager - Marketing - Exports (Forging Division)

Location: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra

About the Company:

Akar Auto Industries Ltd. (formerly Akar Tools Ltd.) manufactures automotive components, precision forgings, leaf springs, and industrial tools, serving customers across domestic and international markets.

Role Overview:

The General Manager - Marketing - Exports will lead export business development and international market expansion for the Forging Division. The role involves identifying overseas business opportunities, developing relationships with international customers, managing export sales and commercial negotiations, and coordinating with internal teams to ensure successful execution of export orders and sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop and execute export marketing strategies to expand the forging division's presence in international markets.

- Identify and acquire new overseas customers, including automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and relevant industrial buyers.

- Build and maintain long-term relationships with international customers, distributors, and business partners.

- Manage the complete export sales cycle, from lead generation and customer inquiries to quotations, negotiations, order closure, and customer relationship management.

- Evaluate RFQs, customer specifications, pricing requirements, and commercial terms to prepare competitive export proposals.

- Conduct international market research, competitor analysis, and customer mapping to identify new business opportunities.

- Develop pricing strategies considering manufacturing costs, freight, duties, currency fluctuations, and target margins.

- Coordinate with production, engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure customer requirements, delivery schedules, and quality standards are met.

- Monitor export order execution, demand forecasts, shipment schedules, and customer commitments.

- Oversee export documentation and coordinate with logistics, finance, and other relevant teams to support timely shipments and compliance with applicable export regulations.

- Track export sales performance, revenue growth, profitability, and customer acquisition against business targets.

- Represent the company in international customer meetings, trade exhibitions, and industry events as required.

- Lead and mentor the export marketing team to achieve business development and revenue objectives.

Required Skills and Competencies:

- Strong experience in export marketing, international sales, or business development within the automotive, forging, auto components, or leaf spring industry.

- Understanding of automotive forgings, manufacturing capabilities, customer specifications, and quality requirements.

- Experience working with international OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, or industrial customers.

- Knowledge of export sales processes, international commercial negotiations, pricing, logistics, and export documentation.

- Strong market research, customer acquisition, and strategic business development skills.

- Commercial acumen with the ability to develop pricing strategies and improve business profitability.

- Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

- Ability to coordinate cross-functionally and manage multiple customer requirements and business priorities.

Key Result Areas (KRAs):

- Growth in export revenue and profitability for the Forging Division.

- Acquisition of new international customers and business accounts.

- Expansion into new geographies and target markets.

- Improvement in RFQ conversion rates and order acquisition.

- Achievement of export sales targets and contribution margins.

- Timely execution of export orders and customer delivery commitments.

- Strengthening of international customer relationships and retention.

- Effective market intelligence and competitive positioning.

Preferred Candidate Profile:

A commercially driven marketing leader with 12 - 20 years of experience, including substantial exposure to export sales and international business development in automotive components, forgings, or related manufacturing industries. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to develop overseas markets, acquire strategic customers, negotiate commercial agreements, and drive profitable export business growth.