Managing Director

Basildon, Essex
Mode 3 Executive Search Ltd

Position: Managing Director

Reporting to: CEO

Industry: Freight Forwarding

Total Compensation: £200,000 -£250,000 (including base salary, car allowance, yearly bonus, benefits, LTIP (Long-Term-Incentive-Plan)

Mode 3 is currently conducting confidential introduction calls regarding this exceptional opportunity for an innovative and visionary leader within the freight forwarding industry. Our client partner is a well-established freight forwarding and supply chain company that offers a comprehensive range of solutions including ocean freight, air freight, customs, and trade services. With substantial investments in people and technology, the company has achieved consistent organic growth and remarkable customer retention.

We are now seeking an ambitious Managing Director to lead the organisation into its next phase of expansion.

This role is ideal for an individual with a strong commercial background within the UK freight forwarding industry, who has proven their ability to drive profitable growth through product and service innovation, the development of personnel, and building strong relationships with senior-level stakeholders. The successful candidate will have held a minimum Director level position in a medium-sized UK freight forwarding business or a senior management role in a larger global forwarder. The position will be based in the Southeast of England.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop operations, customer service, sales, and technology across all modes and directions of freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and logistics.
• Develop the business through best-in-class practices aligned with a defined strategy, including organic growth and potential external investment opportunities such as mergers and acquisitions.
• Foster a culture of exceptional leadership, building strong relationships and teams. Recruit outstanding individuals, invest in the growth of team members, and lead by example.
• Empower and develop competent staff and management personnel, providing mentorship to direct reports.
• Manage recruitment, retention, development, and cost-effective allocation of resources.
• Oversee financial performance, prepare and present business and budget plans to the CEO.
• Identify opportunities for performance improvement and increased ROI to achieve or exceed targets.
• Drive continuous improvement in day-to-day operations and identify ways to enhance service offerings for clients.
• Proactively manage suppliers and procurement processes through structured reviews, agreed KPIs, and SLAs.
• Develop and strengthen the overseas partner network.
• Champion customer service as a critical success factor and a key differentiator.
• Enhance Key Account Management for major customer accounts.
• Focus on customer retention, market share growth, and successful onboarding of new clients.
• Increase revenue and margins across all sales channels to align with organisational budgets and strategy.
• Maintain accurate KPIs and measurements such as the customer opportunity pipeline.
• Identify and develop new vertical markets and services.
• Explore new revenue streams from the existing customer base.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Extensive leadership experience within UK-based freight forwarding businesses.
• Proven ability to build, develop, and motivate high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial focus and track record in improving top and bottom-line results.
• Business acumen with a solid understanding of P&L, cost management, cash flow, and analytics, while balancing short-term and long-term goals.
• Experience in business development, business reorganisation, and resource management and development.
• Awareness of project and change management principles.
• High energy levels and a passion for making a significant impact in moving the organisation to the next level of achievement.
• Excellent network of industry contacts.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Previous experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is desirable but not essential.
• Experience working in an independent business managing stakeholders and shareholders.

Should your application be successful, you will be contacted within 14 working days for a confidential discussion to establish your suitability. Unfortunately we are unable to respond to all applicants due to the high volume of total applications received.

Mode 3 Executive Search Ltd is an independent recruitment consultancy providing specialist talent finding services. Principally we operate within Freight Forwarding, Supply Chain & Logistics and the wider Global Transportation market, recruiting permanent positions from the operations desk to the boardroom. We are always keen to connect with talented individuals experienced in Import Freight, Export Freight, Sea Freight, Air Freight, Road Freight, Project Forwarding, Supply Chain Management and Global Logistics.