EXECUTIVE SEARCH | Country Manager Spain

International industrial ingredients distribution company, owned by private equity, and with a strong organic and inorganic growth strategy.

At Saltor Talent we have successfully led the search for a Country Manager for Spain, based in Barcelona, within the framework of the company’s global expansion and its sustained growth plan in the Iberian market.

The challenge

Our client was looking for a management figure capable of ensuring excellent operational execution, in a technical distribution business with a strong logistical, regulatory and value-added component.

Unlike traditional commercial roles, this position required leadership focused on operations, supply chain and strategic customer management from execution, with financial vision and the ability to integrate future acquisitions in Spain.

The main challenges of the role were:

• Ensure operational compliance with commercial commitments with industrial customers.
• Optimize supply chain and logistics in an environment of tight margins and high regulatory complexity.
• Ensure the financial efficiency of the local business, with a focus on profitability and budgetary rigor.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams combining technical, logistical and commercial capabilities.
• Prepare the company for a process of acquisitions and future integrations in the Spanish market.

Our strategy

We define a search process segmented into three priority axes:

1 – Leadership in industrial distribution environments

We focus on identifying profiles with experience in B2B distribution companies, preferably with regulated components (food, pharma, chemical, personal care), where operational excellence is key to customer value.

2 – Profile oriented to operations, supply chain and financial rigor

We prioritize managers with strong knowledge in complex logistics chains, contract management and financial efficiency, capable of transforming operations into a competitive advantage and ensuring compliance with what is promised by the commercial force.

3 – Experience in integrations and inorganic growth

Given the client’s interest in future acquisitions in Spain, we focused on candidates with M&A experience, capable of integrating teams, systems, processes and cultures with a long-term vision and operational continuity.

The result

The process concluded with the presentation of a shortlist of senior candidates with experience in supply chain, industrial distribution and operational coordination between sales, operations and finance.

The selected person stood out for:

• His extensive experience managing operations and supply chain in international industrial distribution companies.
• In-depth knowledge of logistics, regulatory and quality processes in the food and pharmaceutical sectors.
• Financial strength, leading local P&L with a focus on operational profitability.
• Previous experience in integrations after acquisitions, providing a vision of sustainable growth.
• Collaborative leadership style, process-oriented, efficiency and excellence in customer service.

This case consolidates Saltor Talent’s experience in cooperating with investment funds, in the identification of managers specialized in industrial and complex distribution environments.