Director Sales, India

Future CEO / Managing Director India

European MNC, Water Purification

Bengaluru

ABOUT OUR CLIENT

Information about the client is not provided in the text.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a founding leadership role. You will join as Director Sales and take charge of the India business from the ground up, with a transparent path to becoming CEO or Managing Director India as the business scales. It is a hands-on, entrepreneurial mandate with complete P&L; ownership. You will set the go-to-market strategy, open the channels, build distribution, establish the brand in the premium segment and hire the team, with the backing, products and governance of a global organisation behind you. It suits a leader who wants to build a business, and who has the stature to represent India to the global leadership team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and P&L;

- Own the complete India P&L;: revenue, margin, pricing, costs, working capital and investment.
- Develop the India business plan and go-to-market strategy and secure alignment with global headquarters.
- Define the product portfolio, pricing and positioning for India in the premium segment, differentiated from mass-market RO competition.

Go-to-market and sales

- Build an omnichannel business across general trade, modern trade, premium retail, e-commerce and marketplaces, D2C and institutional / B2B.
- Appoint and develop distributors, channel partners and key accounts in priority cities, and expand in a planned sequence.
- Open the commercial and hospitality segment (hotels, restaurants, cafés, offices) for professional water solutions.
- Lead key negotiations and customer relationships personally in the early phase, and deliver the sales targets.

Brand and customer

- Establish the brand in India with a premium,



differentiated identity, working with global marketing and local partners.
- Build the customer experience, including installation, after-sales service and consumables / replacement revenue.

Organisation and operations

- Recruit, lead and develop the India leadership team across sales, marketing, finance, supply chain and service.
- Set up the operating backbone: supply chain, service network, systems, processes and commercial controls.
- Ensure statutory, regulatory and product compliance, and uphold the groups governance and ethical standards.

Headquarters and stakeholders

- Represent India to the global leadership team: business reviews, forecasts, budgets and investment cases.
- Work effectively within a global matrix, drawing on group functions while keeping India priorities moving.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

- Experience: 1520+ years in sales and commercial leadership, ideally in consumer durables, water purification, filtration, premium appliances, FMCG or adjacent categories.
- P&L; ownership: Has run a substantial P&L; with full accountability for profit, beyond sales targets alone.
- Builders track record: Has built a business, category, brand or region from an early stage: created the GTM, established channels and distribution, and scaled it.
- Premium positioning: Experience selling premium, high-value products through differentiated channels, where value and brand matter more than price.




- Omnichannel depth: Working command of general trade, modern trade, premium retail, e-commerce, D2C and institutional / B2B; exposure to hospitality or commercial solutions is an advantage.
- Strategic and operational maturity: Understands marketing, finance, operations, supply chain and people, and can run the whole business as a future MD.
- MNC and international exposure: Has worked in a multinational or global matrix and is comfortable with HQ reporting, governance and international stakeholder management.
- Leadership presence: Credible with a global leadership team and with customers, partners and employees in India.
- Education: Graduate with an MBA / PGDM from a reputed institute preferred.

LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

- Entrepreneurial and hands-on; equally comfortable setting strategy and closing a distributor in the market.
- Ownership of results and comfort with ambiguity in an early-stage business.
- Commercial judgement and financial discipline.
- Ability to attract and build a strong team.
- Clear, confident communication and high personal integrity.

WHY THIS ROLE

- Lead the India entry of a respected European brand, with the mandate to shape the business from the first day.
- A defined path to CEO / Managing Director India.
- Complete P&L; ownership and direct access to global leadership.
- A premium, differentiated product in a large and growing category.
- Senior leadership compensation, in line with the scope of the role and the candidates profile.

Confidentiality

This is a strictly confidential search managed by Snesha HR Consulting. All applications and discussions will be handled in complete confidence. Please do not circulate this document.

📌 Director - Sales, India (Bengaluru)
🏢 Snesha HR Consulting
📍 Bengaluru