Stroom is op zoek naar een Managing Director Benelux
Over de klant
Our client is an established, international, family-owned logistics service provider with a significant presence in road transport and contract logistics.
The organisation is entering an important phase in the development of its Benelux activities. Its ambition is to create a stable, high-performing and increasingly integrated Benelux organisation, capable of delivering sustainable and profitable growth.
The incoming Managing Director will play a central role in stabilising the existing business, improving operational and commercial performance, strengthening the organisation and further developing the company’s activities in both the Netherlands and Belgium.
This is a substantial leadership assignment combining business transformation, operational improvement and regional development.
The organisation is entering an important phase in the development of its Benelux activities. Its ambition is to create a stable, high-performing and increasingly integrated Benelux organisation, capable of delivering sustainable and profitable growth.
The incoming Managing Director will play a central role in stabilising the existing business, improving operational and commercial performance, strengthening the organisation and further developing the company’s activities in both the Netherlands and Belgium.
This is a substantial leadership assignment combining business transformation, operational improvement and regional development.
Job inhoud
The Managing Director will assume full P&L and end-to-end responsibility for the Benelux organisation and will report directly to the group’s ownership and senior leadership.
The position requires a highly visible and hands-on leader. The successful candidate will be present across the operation, maintain close contact with employees and customers, and take clear ownership of both performance and organisational development.
The role is not limited to managing the existing business. The Managing Director will be expected to shape the next phase of the Benelux organisation and establish the foundations for sustainable long-term growth.
Key Priorities
Stabilising and Improving the Business
The Managing Director will lead a comprehensive improvement programme aimed at creating greater stability, accountability and operational control.
Early priorities will include assessing the current organisation, identifying the principal performance gaps and translating these findings into a clear and actionable improvement agenda.
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate experience in challenging business environments and show how they have previously stabilised performance, restored confidence and returned an organisation to sustainable growth.
Developing the Road-Transport Network
Road transport and network development form the core of the assignment.
The business includes domestic distribution within the Benelux, international road-network activities across Europe and direct FTL and LTL transport solutions.
The Managing Director must understand the operational and commercial economics of these different transport models, as well as how they work together within a depot-based network. This includes balancing service, capacity, productivity, network utilisation and commercial performance.
Strengthening the Benelux Organisation
A key part of the mandate will be to further develop an integrated Benelux organisation and strengthen the company’s position in both the Netherlands and Belgium.
The successful candidate must be able to operate effectively across borders while remaining sensitive to local market conditions, customer requirements and cultural differences.
Building Stable and Engaged Teams
Creating organisational stability is an important leadership priority.
The Managing Director will be expected to reduce employee turnover, rebuild trust and create an environment in which employees understand what is expected of them and feel accountable for the company’s performance.
This requires a leader who combines accessibility and supportive people management with clarity, discipline and decisiveness. The individual must be comfortable developing people while also addressing persistent underperformance or behaviour that does not align with the organisation’s values.
Developing the Leadership Team
The Managing Director will assess the existing management structure, ensure that the right people are in the right positions and further develop the capabilities of the leadership team.
The objective is to build a strong and accountable management team that makes effective use of individual strengths and is capable of leading the organisation independently.
Overseeing Contract Logistics
Alongside its road-transport activities, the company operates a substantial contract-logistics business.
Although road transport and network development remain the primary focus of the position, the Managing Director must have sufficient knowledge of contract logistics to provide direction, assess performance and ensure alignment between the different parts of the business.
The position requires a highly visible and hands-on leader. The successful candidate will be present across the operation, maintain close contact with employees and customers, and take clear ownership of both performance and organisational development.
The role is not limited to managing the existing business. The Managing Director will be expected to shape the next phase of the Benelux organisation and establish the foundations for sustainable long-term growth.
Key Priorities
Stabilising and Improving the Business
The Managing Director will lead a comprehensive improvement programme aimed at creating greater stability, accountability and operational control.
Early priorities will include assessing the current organisation, identifying the principal performance gaps and translating these findings into a clear and actionable improvement agenda.
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate experience in challenging business environments and show how they have previously stabilised performance, restored confidence and returned an organisation to sustainable growth.
Developing the Road-Transport Network
Road transport and network development form the core of the assignment.
The business includes domestic distribution within the Benelux, international road-network activities across Europe and direct FTL and LTL transport solutions.
The Managing Director must understand the operational and commercial economics of these different transport models, as well as how they work together within a depot-based network. This includes balancing service, capacity, productivity, network utilisation and commercial performance.
Strengthening the Benelux Organisation
A key part of the mandate will be to further develop an integrated Benelux organisation and strengthen the company’s position in both the Netherlands and Belgium.
The successful candidate must be able to operate effectively across borders while remaining sensitive to local market conditions, customer requirements and cultural differences.
Building Stable and Engaged Teams
Creating organisational stability is an important leadership priority.
The Managing Director will be expected to reduce employee turnover, rebuild trust and create an environment in which employees understand what is expected of them and feel accountable for the company’s performance.
This requires a leader who combines accessibility and supportive people management with clarity, discipline and decisiveness. The individual must be comfortable developing people while also addressing persistent underperformance or behaviour that does not align with the organisation’s values.
Developing the Leadership Team
The Managing Director will assess the existing management structure, ensure that the right people are in the right positions and further develop the capabilities of the leadership team.
The objective is to build a strong and accountable management team that makes effective use of individual strengths and is capable of leading the organisation independently.
Overseeing Contract Logistics
Alongside its road-transport activities, the company operates a substantial contract-logistics business.
Although road transport and network development remain the primary focus of the position, the Managing Director must have sufficient knowledge of contract logistics to provide direction, assess performance and ensure alignment between the different parts of the business.
Job vereisten
Leadership Style
The ideal candidate is a grounded, credible and decisive leader who creates confidence through personal involvement and consistent execution.
They must be able to move comfortably between strategic decision-making and operational reality, engaging effectively with employees, customers, ownership and international stakeholders.
The role requires someone who listens and builds trust, but who is equally prepared to set clear expectations, make difficult decisions and hold the organisation accountable for results.
Transition and Initial Expectations
The preferred starting date is Q1 2027.
During the initial transition period, the new Managing Director will work closely with the current leadership to meet key stakeholders, gain a thorough understanding of the business and gradually assume full responsibility for the Benelux organisation.
Although the broader transition is expected to take approximately six months, the new Managing Director will be expected to establish clear priorities and demonstrate visible progress within the first three to four months.
The precise objectives and success criteria for this initial period will be defined as part of the final appointment process.
The ideal candidate is a grounded, credible and decisive leader who creates confidence through personal involvement and consistent execution.
They must be able to move comfortably between strategic decision-making and operational reality, engaging effectively with employees, customers, ownership and international stakeholders.
The role requires someone who listens and builds trust, but who is equally prepared to set clear expectations, make difficult decisions and hold the organisation accountable for results.
Transition and Initial Expectations
The preferred starting date is Q1 2027.
During the initial transition period, the new Managing Director will work closely with the current leadership to meet key stakeholders, gain a thorough understanding of the business and gradually assume full responsibility for the Benelux organisation.
Although the broader transition is expected to take approximately six months, the new Managing Director will be expected to establish clear priorities and demonstrate visible progress within the first three to four months.
The precise objectives and success criteria for this initial period will be defined as part of the final appointment process.
Wat we bieden
Further information regarding the client, the organisation and the complete scope of the position will be provided following execution of a confidentiality agreement.
Interesse? Solliciteer nu!
