VP / GM

Parent Company

The company designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and consumer products, which all generate over $10 Billon in revenue. 

The company operates globally with about 50% of its revenues derived from outside the United States.  The Company has significant operating businesses headquartered in Europe and has greatly expanded its operating presence in Asia over the past several years.  It is a well-capitalized business, which has historically used available cash flow to fund acquisition activity.

Culturally, the company operates in a highly de-centralized model with a very small corporate structure.   The company has a proven system for achieving performance that drives every aspect of the group’s culture and performance. This system has enabled the company to double in size about every four years with impressive financial performance.

Division Background – Consumables

The division is a leading global designer and producer of innovative diagnostic products serving histopathology laboratories, pathologists and clinical and life science researchers globally. 

The division brings histopathology labs and researchers the highest-quality, most comprehensive product range covering the segments of Sectioning & Specimen preparation instruments, Core Histology consumables, automated solutions and reagents and antibodies.  This breadth of offering is unique in the industry and allows it to be in the leading position to help bring improved patient care and high-productivity workflow solutions to the entire histopathology lab. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The company is seeking a highly accomplished executive to serve in the position of Vice President and General Manager for the Consumables business.  S/he will lead the fully integrated P&L including operations, product development, marketing, supply chain, sales in the USA direct, sales outside of the USA through the established Selling Units, finance and HR. The position is accountable for approximate revenue of $70M and a staff of 250 employees, and will be located in the Chicago, Illinois area.

The key objectives for this position are:

• to drive profitable growth of the Consumables business outperforming all major competitors and creating shareholder value in line or above shareholders expectations and


• to develop together with other business units to improve workflow and patient care.

S/He will be part of the executive management team driving the total Leica Biosystems business globally. Within this team S/He will work closely with the regional leaders and the division management team to ensure that the most innovative product offerings are available globally.

Finally, a major responsibility for this leader will be to elevate the capabilities and skills of the business unit to have the “engine in place” to deliver sustainable performance. The projected growth goals are to minimally double the business every three years (organically and through acquisitions) and to be able to handle the ongoing business as well as the required post merger integration.

Key Relationships

Reports to: President

Direct Reports:

• Managing Director Histology Consumables business unit Europe


• Director Sales and Marketing (USA sales team and international sales support team)


• Consumables Product Management


• Chief Science Officer


• Director, Applications and Innovation


• Director Supply Chain Management


• Operations Director


• R&D

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Responsible for all commercial activities of Consumables business unit in North America: sales, marketing, service and supply chain management activities and results.


• Represent division with key customers, distribution partners and other industry participants.


• Define and execute the short, mid- and long-term distribution strategy for the division in North America, and work with the regional selling units to define and execute the global distribution strategy for the Consumables business.


• Expand market coverage in target segments in the USA as well as outside of the USA. Drive customer segment specific distribution strategies.


• Establish competitive functioning logistics in North America, Europe and AP


• Manage the daily business of the business unit with the key focus on maximizing customer satisfaction, core growth, profitability, asset management and implementation of lean management in the division as well as in potential future newly acquired consumables businesses


• Continuously grow the management team as well as the whole organization with regard to capabilities and performance to make the division the benchmark amongst within the industry


• Drive process improvements throughout division to ensure customer excellence, sales excellence and ongoing sales and operational efficiency gains

CANDIDATE SPECIFICATION: KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

• A minimum of ten years of broadening assignments and experience, with expertise in a number of functional areas including sales, marketing and distribution in a highly respected company.


• A minimum of five years experience in leading the profit and loss of an operating company with revenues in excess of $30 Million. Must have a track record of improving market share, profitability and customer satisfaction.


• Strong clinical and/or life science industry experience – especially producing and selling consumables.


• Strong sales focus and mind-set. The ideal candidate will have had strong sales and marketing experience. Must have experience leading complex sales channels (direct, distribution, private label, inside sales etc)


• Proven experience in product development from ideation through commercialization.


• Ability to work with and lead operational improvements using “lean principles” and Kaizen.


• Has operated in a high volume/low mix environment where product differentiation is challenging


• Undergraduate degree required; Scientific, Medical, or Technical.


• An advanced degree (e.g., MBA or advanced degree in a life science, Biology, technical) from a well-regarded institution is highly desirable.


• Experience working in different international company cultures