President

Our client is looking for a President to lead a multi-site, growth-oriented manufacturing business. This is a "Sales-First" leadership role. The executive will serve as the company’s lead business developer. We are seeking a "Dual Impact President" who can set the big-picture strategy while personally hunting for new business to build a strong foundation for the company.

The successful candidate will be a high-energy "Hunter" who can manage the company’s finances while staying hands-on with sales. While this role oversees the entire business, the primary mission is to transform how the company finds customers and ensure it is not relying on just a few legacy accounts.

Core Sales & Business Development Mandate

• Lead the Sales Effort: You will personally handle all sales functions. Currently, the President is the primary person responsible for finding, managing, and closing every deal.
• Aggressive Outreach: You will lead the effort to find new business. Our client wants to move away from "waiting for the phone to ring" and instead actively go out and build a pipeline.
• Grow the Customer Base: A key goal is to deliver 20% growth in new customers within the first year to ensure the company isn't over-reliant on any single client.
• Open New Markets: You will identify and win business in high-growth areas like Data Centers, Transportation, and Defense.
• Build a Sales System: You will move the business from being reactive to proactive by setting up sales tools (CRM) and a regular process for tracking new leads.
• Partner with Owners: You will work closely with the private equity owners and financial partners to make sure the sales strategy and company investments stay on the same page.

Business & Strategic Leadership

• Manage the Bottom Line: You are fully responsible for the financial health of the organization, driving profit growth by expanding the top-line revenue.
• Prepare the Team for Growth: You will build the foundation—both in culture and operations—needed to support the influx of new business you bring in.
• Manage Key Relationships: You will handle the high-level relationships with investors, banks, and major vendors to keep the business running smoothly.

Qualifications

• A Sales Background: You have at least 15 years of experience with a career rooted entirely in Sales and Business Development. You didn't come up through the factory floor or the accounting department—you started in sales and worked your way up.
• A Proven "Hunter": You have a clear, verifiable history of finding brand-new customers and breaking into new accounts in industries like metalwork or industrial coatings.
• P&L Leadership: You have successfully served as a President or Senior Manager where the company's financial success was driven by your ability to grow the business.
• The Right Network: You have a strong personal network and business contacts in WI, MI, MN, IL, AZ, and CA.
• Education: A Bachelor’s degree is required; an MBA or advanced sales certifications are a plus.