General Manager/Head - International Business/Export - Manufacturing

Job Title: General Manager - International Business / Head - Exports

Level: GM / AVP / VP

Location: Bangalore

Industry: Kitchen Appliances & Consumer Durables

Reports To: Managing Director

Role Overview:

This role leads the international business for a large, fast-growing kitchen appliances manufacturing organization. The position requires a senior export leader with deep, hands-on experience in global markets and strong personal relationships across international distribution channels. The mandate is to rapidly scale export revenue by leveraging existing market connects in Middle East, Africa, and other high-potential regions.

Key Responsibilities:

International Strategy & Leadership:

- Own and execute the global export and international business strategy.

- Drive sustainable growth, market share, and profitability across priority export regions.

- Act as the senior-most international business representative with overseas partners.

Market Connections & Competitive Expansion:

- Leverage existing personal network with distributors, importers, buying houses, and large retailers in Middle East, Africa, CIS, Europe, and APAC.

- Bring immediate business opportunities through established relationships within the kitchen appliances / consumer durables ecosystem.

- Open new markets and strengthen presence in existing geographies with minimal ramp-up time.

- Lead high-value negotiations, long-term contracts, and strategic alliances.

Channel, Distributor & OEM Management:

- Appoint, manage, and scale high-quality distributor and OEM partnerships.

- Drive private label and institutional export business.

- Build and lead a high-performing international sales team.

Export Operations & Governance:

- Provide leadership oversight on export documentation, logistics, customs, and statutory compliance.

- Ensure adherence to INCOTERMS, international trade regulations, and country-specific requirements.

- Collaborate closely with manufacturing, supply chain, finance, and quality teams for flawless execution.

Product, Compliance & Market Fit:

- Guide product adaptation as per international certifications and standards (CE, UL, IEC, RoHS, etc.).

- Ensure product positioning, pricing, and packaging align with regional market dynamics.

- Track competition, pricing benchmarks, and evolving consumer trends globally.

Financial Ownership:

- Own international business P&L, pricing strategy, margins, forex exposure, and receivables.

- Drive healthy cash flows and minimize credit and country risks.

- Prepare budgets, forecasts, and board-level performance reviews.

Mandatory Candidate Criteria (Non-Negotiable):

- Current or recent experience with leading kitchen appliances / consumer durables manufacturers competing in the premiummass segment.

- Strong, proven personal connections with distributors and importers in Middle East & Africa (mandatory).

- Ability to generate export business independently through existing market relationships.

- Senior leadership maturity suitable for GM / VP-level global engagement.

Qualifications & Experience:

- Graduate / Engineer; MBA preferred.

- 15+ years of experience in international business / exports within kitchen appliances or closely related consumer durables.

- Prior role at GM / AVP / VP level handling multi-country export operations.

- Proven track record of building and scaling international markets.