General Manager

JOB TITLE:
General Manager

REPORTING TO:
CEO

Overview

This is a unique opportunity to join a leading food and beverage company majority-owned by a private equity fund. The business has enjoyed remarkable success in recent years and is now poised for its next phase of growth and value creation.

The General Manager will play a pivotal role in leading this transition within a high-performing, founder-led organization. While the Founder will remain as CEO, the new GM will be granted increasing autonomy and will benefit from a strong mentoring and coaching relationship.

From day one, the GM will have direct line responsibility for the full senior leadership team and will need the interpersonal finesse and cultural awareness to navigate a well-established organizational dynamic.

As the company prepares for a potential exit, the GM will ensure full alignment with private equity stakeholders, leveraging robust financial expertise to drive EBITDA growth, cash flow optimization, and overall enterprise value enhancement.

This role requires a strong balance of operational leadership and strategic influence, with the ability to inspire and align the senior team while delivering tangible results in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the Founder/CEO and Board of Directors to define and execute corporate strategies focused on growth, operational efficiency, and resource optimization
• Build and lead a high-performing, aligned senior leadership team that consistently delivers against key performance metrics
• Develop a compelling equity story and strategic roadmap to prepare the business for a successful exit
• Maintain composure and decisiveness in the face of challenges, enabling swift action and organizational momentum
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and performance at all levels of the business

2. Financial and Operational Oversight

• Take full ownership of the company’s P&L, ensuring achievement of financial targets related to EBITDA and cash flow
• Collaborate closely with the CFO to analyze financial performance, optimize resource allocation, and identify opportunities for value enhancement
• Lead process improvement initiatives aimed at increasing operational efficiency and margin improvement

3. Operational Excellence

• Oversee critical operational areas including Bottling, Purchasing, Quality, and Supply Chain
• Ensure the organization has the right talent in place to support current operations and future growth
• Drive execution of the company’s operational improvement plan ("Playbook") and identify additional high-impact initiatives

4. Stakeholder Alignment

• In partnership with the CEO and CFO, prepare and lead monthly/quarterly reviews with the private equity investors
• Play a key role in preparing and executing the company’s exit strategy, ensuring alignment across all stakeholders

Candidate Requirements

Experience:

• Strong track record of full P&L ownership, including EBITDA and cash flow management
• Experience working in private equity-backed companies is highly desirable, particularly with exposure to value creation and exit planning
• Background in founder-led or family-owned business environments is a plus

Skills & Attributes:

• Exceptional financial and operational acumen, with a focus on value creation
• High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills to navigate well-established relationships and legacy dynamics
• Proven leadership in building and scaling high-performing teams in fast-moving, results-oriented settings
• Clear communicator with the ability to define and rally others around a shared vision

Languages

• Fluency in English is mandatory

Location

Central Italy, with availability for travel to the Group’s production sites and customer markets