Managing Director

Precision Engineering | Aerospace & Defence

Our client is a highly respected, privately-owned precision engineering business with a proud manufacturing heritage spanning more than 60 years. Operating from a well-invested UK facility, alongside an established overseas manufacturing presence, the business supplies mission-critical components into some of the world's most demanding industrial sectors, including Aerospace, Defence, Power Generation, Oil & Gas and Heavy Off-Highway equipment.

With a loyal blue-chip customer base, exceptional engineering capability and an outstanding reputation for quality, the business is entering an exciting new phase of growth and is now seeking an entrepreneurial, commercially-driven Managing Director to lead it there.

This is not a turnaround, and it is not simply an operational leadership role.

It is a rare opportunity to take the helm of an established, profitable engineering business and shape its future, growing the order book, developing new strategic accounts and expanding its footprint across Aerospace, Defence and other high-value markets.

A future Management Buy Out (MBO) opportunity is genuinely on the table for the right individual, offering a route to long-term ownership and value creation, not just a salary.

Reporting directly to the Board, you will take full responsibility for the commercial and operational performance of the business, with a clear mandate: grow the business.

• Develop and execute a long-term commercial growth strategy.
• Win new business and expand strategic accounts across Aerospace, Defence and precision engineering markets.
• Build relationships with OEMs, Tier One suppliers and key industry decision-makers.
• Lead and inspire an experienced senior leadership team.
• Protect margins, drive operational excellence and support investment decisions alongside the existing operational team.
• Identify future acquisition, partnership and market development opportunities.

You are likely to be an experienced Managing Director, General Manager, Sales Director, Commercial Director or senior Business Leader with:

• A proven track record of winning business and growing multi-million-pound order books within Aerospace, Defence or precision/advanced manufacturing.
• Existing relationships across major OEMs and Tier One suppliers.
• Strong commercial credibility, having led complex, high-value engineering programmes.
• Experience leading precision engineering or advanced manufacturing businesses at Board level.
• An entrepreneurial mindset as comfortable in the boardroom as on the shop floor.