Country Head Greece & Cyprus

About the job

At Opella Healthcare, we build trusted and loved brands that connect with hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide. Our mission is to enable better self-care for individuals and communities, while also contributing to a healthier planet. We strive to act as a force for good by integrating sustainability along our business and employees’ mission and operate responsibly from both a social and environmental point of view. To achieve this, we need people who can shape the future of our business and help us on our journey to becoming the best fast-moving consumer healthcare company in and for the world.

The Country Head in Greece & Cyprus manages the Opella business in this key market:

• Net sales at 40M€ (T1 24), one of the fastest growing markets globally at 27% 3year CAGR;

• Organization: ~ 18 HC in Commercial Operations;

• Greece is a benefit corporation starting July 2024;

• Highly visible within the EULA and the Global Opella business

• Good mix of both global brands and local brands;

• Opella representative in the SANOFI Country Council (may change later) and Consumer Industry association;

• Various internal and external stakeholders of strategic importance.

• Location – Athens

• Reporting to – Western Europe Head

Main responsibilities:

• Defines and implements the strategy for Greece & Cyprus and is accountable for the overall strategic planning and execution in line with Global & local strategy.

• Be in-charge of leading all strategic and operational management activities.

• Holds overall full P&L ownership for the country, with full ownership of local brands and is responsible for optimal resource allocation and execution of the global brand strategy in GR&CY.

• Defines and implements the brand and marketing plans, commercial, innovation and trade strategy and eCommerce activities in close collaboration with global teams.

• Develops Top-2-Top relationship with key customers, partners, agencies, suppliers, and other stakeholders, to ensure best-in-class partnering and performance.

• Continuously monitors competitive performance and local trends anticipating local risks and opportunities and adapting plans as needed.

• Leverages opportunities in the local market and adjusts the business strategy where and when relevant, including opportunities for portfolio & innovation through acquisition, in-licensing, partnering and divestments.

• Leads & develops the Opella team in GR & CY (in total approx. 18 people, 12 direct reports) in an engaging way to ensure high performance, commitment, and motivation in line with our values.

• Attract and develop talent and continuous coaching of the Leadership Team, to deliver continuing improvements in culture and key related metrics such as Diversity & Inclusion

• Ensures buy-in and ownership of the vision and targets by the Opella team.

• Leads internal and external stakeholder management.

• Actively participates / leads transversal strategic projects critical to the Region success – influences the Region and Global strategic agenda.

• Ensures compliance and business integrity.

• Is a role-model of End-to-end leadership, able to connect the dots and ruthlessly simplify, to ensure focus on consumer and customer.

About you

Experience:  

• Minimum 10-15 years’ experience as a Commercial Leader in international companies in FMCG, Consumer Healthcare or other relevant industries

• Marketing and sales background. Full end to end business understanding and management experience. Ability to have a holistic perspective on business operations, from a consumer, shopper, and customer standpoint.

• Digital/E-Commerce acumen: ability to spearhead the opportunities digital is offering and accelerate ecommerce sales contribution.

• Experience in transformation in an international environment and ready to lead the GR & CY team and business into our standalone future.

• Data-driven and strong P&L / financial understanding, to deliver on performance and value-creation levers.

Soft skills:

• Excellent People Leadership skills: Strong change management skills to be able to lead successfully through the changes / transition of Opella. Influential leadership style with the ability to inspire not only Greek and Cypriot teams but inspire those around the world with a ‘Challenger mindset’, putting our vision and mission into the centre of our actions.

• Innovation & Performance mindset: demonstrated success creating an environment where teams challenge status-quo, remove boundaries, and re-invent models/processes. Always stretching for more while striving for simplification.

• Talent Development & Capability building: proven record of attracting, engaging, developing and retaining top performers and high potentials, as well as anticipating enabling key capabilities needs aligned to business needs and therefore adapt the organization

• Agility: Flexibility to adapt to constantly changing business and external environment

• Education: University degree in Business Administration or equivalent.

• Languages:

  • Excellent English communication and presentation skills (both written and spoken)

  • Openness to languages would be valuable