Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – International Business & Exports

Location: Surat, Gujarat, India

Experience: 15–20 Years

Compensation: ₹35 LPA – ₹1 Cr + Performance-Linked Incentives

Employment Type: Full-Time | Senior Leadership

Reports to: Board of Directors / Promoter Group

1. About the Business

An established business group with a strong foundation in the textile industry is expanding into a new business vertical focused on domestic and international trade, supported by a strategic joint venture arrangement. The business will focus on a diversified portfolio of products, including textiles, generic pharmaceuticals, ceramics and tiles, organic chemicals, and selected FMCG products, serving opportunities across domestic and international markets.

As part of this expansion, the organisation is seeking an experienced Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the development, execution and growth of this business vertical. The role offers an opportunity to shape business strategy, establish scalable operations, build a high-performing team and drive sustainable revenue and profitability.

1. Role Overview

The CEO will hold end-to-end leadership responsibility for the business vertical, covering business strategy, entity set-up and launch, international market development, sales, commercial operations, financial performance, team building and organisational growth. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in international business and cross-border trade, along with a strong understanding of the complete export lifecycle—from market identification and customer acquisition to commercial negotiations, order execution, logistics, payment realisation and long-term relationship management.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a commercially driven professional who can translate business opportunities into measurable results, establish effective systems and processes, and build a professionally managed organisation capable of scaling across multiple product categories and markets.

1. Key Responsibilities

A. Business Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and execute the overall business strategy, growth roadmap and annual operating plan.
- Lead the launch of the new entity from the ground up, including statutory registrations, banking and trade-finance arrangements, and the initial organisation structure.
- Identify high-potential markets, business opportunities, revenue streams and strategic partnerships.
- Translate the organisation's business objectives into clear operational priorities and measurable performance targets.
- Establish the business vertical's operating model, commercial framework and governance structure.
- Lead business expansion while balancing growth, profitability, operational efficiency and risk management.
- Work closely with the business group's leadership and relevant joint venture stakeholders to align strategic priorities.

B. International Business & Export Management
- Lead the end-to-end international business and export function, from market research and buyer identification to order fulfilment and payment realisation.
- Develop and implement international market-entry strategies based on demand, competitive positioning, commercial feasibility and regulatory requirements.
- Build and maintain relationships with international buyers, distributors, importers, sourcing partners and other relevant stakeholders.
- Oversee commercial negotiations, quotations, pricing strategies, contracts, payment terms and customer agreements.
- Ensure effective coordination of export documentation, shipping, logistics, customs processes and delivery commitments through the relevant teams and service providers.
- Monitor export order execution, shipment timelines, receivables, gross margins and customer satisfaction.
- Assess country-specific trade requirements, currency exposure, payment risks and other factors affecting international transactions.
- Develop repeat business, strengthen key accounts and establish sustainable international distribution and sales channels.

C. Business Development & Revenue Growth
- Develop a robust business pipeline across domestic and international markets.
- Identify and pursue current customers, strategic accounts, distributors and channel partners.
- Build domestic sales and distribution channels, particularly for FMCG products, including distributors, wholesalers and institutional buyers.
- Create effective sales strategies, commercial proposals and customer acquisition plans.
- Lead high-value negotiations and establish commercially viable long-term business relationships.
- Monitor market trends,



competitor activity, pricing movements and customer requirements to identify growth opportunities.
- Drive revenue growth while maintaining appropriate margins, payment discipline and customer retention.
- Establish sales targets, review pipeline performance and ensure accountability across the business development team.

D. Financial Management & P&L; Ownership
- Take ownership of the business vertical's financial performance, including revenue, profitability, operating costs and working capital.
- Prepare annual budgets, business forecasts and financial performance plans in coordination with the finance function.
- Establish pricing, margin management and cost-control frameworks.
- Monitor cash flow, receivables, payment cycles, inventory commitments and working capital requirements.
- Evaluate commercial proposals and business opportunities against profitability, risk and return expectations.
- Review financial performance regularly and implement corrective actions wherever required.
- Ensure disciplined financial reporting and effective utilisation of available business resources.

E. Team Building & Organisational Development
- Design the organisational structure and identify key hiring requirements for the business vertical.
- Recruit, develop and lead a high-performing team across international sales, business development, sourcing, trade operations, logistics, finance and other relevant functions.
- Define roles, responsibilities, reporting structures, performance indicators and accountability mechanisms.
- Establish a performance-driven culture focused on ownership, collaboration, customer service and commercial results.
- Develop leadership capability within the team and build processes that support sustainable business growth.
- Ensure effective coordination between commercial, operational, finance and support functions.

F. Product Portfolio & Commercial Development
- Evaluate commercial opportunities across textiles, generic pharmaceuticals, ceramics and tiles, organic chemicals, and selected FMCG products.
- Assess product-market fit, demand, competitive pricing, sourcing options and commercial viability.
- Develop product-specific business plans in line with market opportunities and the organisation's capabilities.
- Coordinate with relevant product specialists, suppliers, manufacturers and technical teams to support product quality, pricing and availability.
- Ensure that product-specific regulatory, quality and documentation requirements are appropriately addressed before entering a market or executing a transaction.
- Prioritise opportunities based on revenue potential, profitability, risk and long-term business value.

G. Systems, Processes & Operational Excellence
- Lead the selection and implementation of an enterprise ERP covering sales, procurement, inventory, finance, logistics and export documentation.
- Establish standard operating procedures for sales, sourcing, order management, export documentation, customer management and reporting.
- Implement suitable systems for tracking business development pipelines, orders, shipments, receivables, margins and overall performance.
- Develop regular management information systems (MIS) and performance dashboards to support data-driven decisions.
- Establish transparent review mechanisms for business performance, operational challenges and strategic priorities.
- Improve coordination across functions to ensure timely execution, operational transparency and accountability.
- Build scalable processes that support expansion without compromising service quality or financial discipline.

H. Compliance, Risk Management & Stakeholder Management
- Own the entity's compliance with applicable trade and regulatory requirements, including DGFT, Customs, GST, FEMA and RBI norms, with the support of legal, finance, logistics and compliance professionals.
- Oversee the identification and management of commercial, operational, financial and counterparty risks.
- Ensure appropriate due diligence for customers, suppliers, distributors and strategic business partners.
- Maintain professional relationships with key customers, suppliers, banks, business partners and joint venture stakeholders.




- Promote ethical business practices, contractual discipline, transparency and sound corporate governance.
- Ensure that product-specific regulatory requirements, particularly drug licensing and registrations for pharmaceuticals and safety norms for chemicals, are addressed with the support of qualified specialists.

1. Required Qualifications & Experience

- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, International Business, Commerce, Economics or a related discipline.
- An MBA or postgraduate qualification in International Business, Finance, Marketing or Management will be an advantage.
- Approximately 15–20 years of relevant professional experience, with substantial experience in senior business management, international business or commercial leadership.
- Demonstrated experience in international trade, export business development, cross-border commercial transactions or global market expansion.
- Strong understanding of the end-to-end export lifecycle, including customer acquisition, pricing, negotiations, documentation, logistics, payment terms and receivables.
- Experience managing business performance, budgets, profitability and working capital.
- Proven ability to build teams, establish business processes and lead cross-functional teams.
- A track record of delivering measurable business growth and commercial outcomes.

1. Preferred Background

- Experience as a CEO, Business Head, General Manager, Vice President, Director or in an equivalent senior leadership position.
- Experience establishing, scaling or leading a business unit, new business vertical or international trading operation.
- Exposure to multi-category trading, distribution, manufacturing-linked exports or diversified business environments.
- Experience working with joint ventures, strategic alliances or international business partners.
- Established relationships with international buyers, distributors, importers or relevant trade networks.
- Experience managing multiple product categories through appropriate functional and product-specialist teams.
- Familiarity with international commercial terms, trade finance, export risk management and cross-border payment practices.

1. Key Leadership Competencies

- Strategic thinking combined with strong execution capabilities.
- Commercial acumen and a results-oriented mindset.
- Strong negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Financial understanding and a clear focus on profitability.
- Ability to build, lead and motivate high-performing teams.
- Sound decision-making in complex and evolving business environments.
- Strong ownership, accountability and problem-solving capabilities.
- Ability to establish structure, systems and processes while maintaining entrepreneurial agility.

1. Key Performance Expectations

The CEO will be evaluated against agreed business objectives, which may include:
- Revenue growth and achievement of business targets.
- Profitability, gross margins and overall P&L; performance.
- Development of new domestic and international markets.
- Acquisition and retention of strategic customers.
- Export order execution, payment realisation and receivables management.
- Development and performance of the business team.
- Establishment of scalable systems, reporting processes and operational controls.
- Effective management of commercial risks and business partnerships.

1. Compensation & Opportunity

The compensation package will be aligned with the candidate's experience, leadership capability and suitability for the role. Indicative CTC: ₹35 LPA – ₹1 Cr, along with performance-linked incentives, subject to the candidate's profile and final discussion.

This role offers the opportunity to lead a new business vertical backed by an established business group, shape its strategic direction and build a scalable domestic and international business operation.

1. Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a business leader who understands international trade beyond sales alone. The ideal candidate should be capable of developing markets, negotiating commercial transactions, managing export execution, understanding financial implications, building the right team and taking responsibility for overall business performance. The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with hands-on execution, demonstrating the ability to build strong commercial relationships, establish disciplined operating systems and deliver sustainable growth across a diversified product portfolio.

Pay: ₹3,500,000.00 - ₹10,000,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person

📌 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (Surat)
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