About the job

Please Note: This role is with one of our portfolio companies.

Co-Founder – Sales, Marketing & Business Development

Plastics, Polymers & Foams

Location: Delhi NCR / India

Travel: Extensive industry travel

About the Role

IAN Group is hiring on behalf of one of its portfolio companies, which is looking for an entrepreneurial and commercially driven qualified to join as Co-Founder, leading sales, marketing and business development across its polymers, specialty materials and foam-related businesses.

We are looking for someone who combines strong technical knowledge of polymer products and applications with an established reputation and network within the Indian plastics industry.

The ideal candidate will be a recognised industry professional who understands the market, knows the key players, can engage confidently with technical and business leaders, and can translate industry relationships into sustainable, profitable growth.

This is an ownership-driven leadership role for someone who wants to build a business, influence product strategy and create a scalable commercial organisation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sales & Business Development

- Lead sales, marketing and business development across polymers, specialty additives and foam-related applications.
- Identify and acquire customers across plastic processors, compounders, masterbatch manufacturers, foam manufacturers, converters and OEMs.
- Develop strategic accounts, channel partnerships and long-term customer relationships.
- Build a strong sales pipeline and drive customer acquisition, repeat business and revenue growth.
- Lead commercial negotiations, pricing decisions and key account development.

2. Technical Knowledge & Application Development

- Demonstrate strong understanding of polymer products, material properties, processing methods and end-use applications.
- Understand customer requirements and recommend suitable products and material solutions.
- Engage confidently on technical specifications, formulation requirements, performance expectations and processing challenges.
- Coordinate product trials, sampling, technical evaluations and customer approvals with R&D; and technical teams.
- Identify unmet market needs and translate them into recent product and application opportunities.

3. Industry Network & Professional Reputation

- Bring an established and demonstrable network within the Indian plastics, polymers and foam industry.




- Have strong professional relationships with industry leaders, business owners, technical heads, procurement heads and relevant decision-makers.
- Demonstrate familiarity with key companies, market participants, competing products and industry developments.
- Leverage industry relationships to facilitate meaningful introductions, strategic partnerships and new business opportunities.
- Maintain an active presence in industry exhibitions, trade fairs, professional forums and relevant industry associations.

4. Market Intelligence & Product Strategy

- Identify high-potential customer segments, emerging applications and new market opportunities.
- Track competitor offerings, market trends, pricing dynamics and customer requirements.
- Work with R&D; to prioritise product development based on market demand, commercial viability and competitive differentiation.
- Develop go-to-market strategies for new products and applications.
- Explore opportunities for domestic expansion, exports and strategic partnerships.

5. Commercial & Business Ownership

- Own revenue growth, gross margins, customer acquisition and commercial performance.
- Develop pricing strategies that balance market competitiveness with profitability.
- Maintain discipline around customer credit, collections and working capital.
- Build a scalable sales organisation, processes and channel network as the business grows.
- Take entrepreneurial ownership of business outcomes and contribute to the company’s long-term strategic direction.

Mandatory Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must meet all the following requirements:

- Relevant industry background: Hands-on experience in plastics, polymers, polymer additives, plastics processing or the foam industry. Experience exclusively in unrelated industries will not qualify.
- Technical competence: Strong knowledge of polymer products, applications, material properties and processing requirements, with the ability to hold credible technical discussions with customers.
- Established industry network:



A demonstrable professional network and reputation within the Indian plastics and polymer ecosystem, including access to relevant decision-makers.
- PLASTINDIA participation: Must have attended at least 2–3 editions of PLASTINDIA as an exhibitor or visitor.
- Commercial track record: Proven experience in B2B sales, customer acquisition, business development and commercial negotiations within the relevant industry.
- Entrepreneurial mindset: Ability to independently develop markets, build customer relationships and take ownership of business growth.

Ideal Candidate Profile

- Technically strong, commercially astute and well connected within the industry.
- Recognised and respected by industry peers, customers or suppliers.
- Capable of opening doors to key customers and converting relationships into business.
- Experienced in application-led selling and technical customer engagement.
- Strong understanding of pricing, gross margins, competition and customer buying behaviour.
- Comfortable working in a fast-growing organisation with autonomy and accountability.
- Motivated to build a business at the co-founder level rather than simply manage an existing sales team.

What This Opportunity Offers

- An opportunity to join at the co-founder level and shape the company’s commercial direction.
- Significant ownership of business development, market expansion and product strategy.
- The opportunity to build a scalable business in polymers, specialty materials and foam applications.
- Direct involvement in strategic decisions, customer relationships and long-term business growth.
- A performance-oriented entrepreneurial environment.

Application Requirements

Interested candidates should share their CV along with a brief note covering:

- Polymer/plastics products and applications handled.
- Key customer segments and business portfolios managed.
- Examples of business development and customer acquisition achievements.
- Industry relationships and professional network.
- PLASTINDIA editions attended and whether participation was as an exhibitor or visitor.

Interested candidates may apply through this LinkedIn post or write to [email protected] with their CV and relevant details. Only candidates meeting the mandatory industry experience, technical knowledge, industry network and PLASTINDIA requirements will be considered.

📌 Co-Founder – Sales, Marketing & Business Development (Polymers & Plastics) (Delhi)
🏢 IAN Group
📍 Delhi