The client is seeking a CEO to lead the group’s next phase of consolidation and development in the Benelux. The role focuses on strengthening coherence and long-term sustainability while preserving an entrepreneurial culture, agility, and a continued commitment to team well-being. The CEO will provide human leadership and bring a strong business mindset to guide the organization through change.
Key responsibilities include continuing the integration of recent acquisitions and progressively aligning the different group activities; structuring the organization, operating models, and procedures in a pragmatic way to consolidate progress and support sustainable growth without becoming overly corporate; and partnering with an experienced CoDir to encourage collective momentum, accountability, and high-quality execution. The CEO will foster a collaborative, agile culture oriented toward continuous improvement; maintain a close-to-the-ground, pragmatic, and human approach; co-develop a clear, ambitious, and realistic strategy with teams and stakeholders in a value-creation logic; identify Benelux development opportunities and help evolve the group in response to market and customer needs; and build trusted relationships with internal teams, international suppliers, key clients, partners, family shareholders, and the board of directors.
The ideal profile includes a master’s-level education in a scientific field with a possible additional focus in management, or a master’s in management sciences combined with strong familiarity with a scientific environment and the ability to work effectively with technical specialists. The client expects at least 15 years of professional experience and the maturity to commit to the CEO role long term. The candidate should bring proven commercial experience, confirmed leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams, and experience with P&L and development project oversight. Relevant background may include life sciences, pharma, food industry, chemistry, or comparable sectors, and the scope should cover at least the Benelux/Belux/France. Trilingual proficiency in French, Dutch, and English is required, along with comfort in complex SME and entrepreneurial environments involving strategic partnerships, international suppliers, and high value-added services, plus strong entrepreneurial vision, relationship skills, transparency, and alignment with long-term RSE and sustainability priorities.