Area General Manager

The organisation

Our client is a privately owned, entrepreneurial logistics company with a strong reputation for customer focus, operational flexibility, and specialized transport expertise.

The organization has built its success on practical know-how, a hands-on mindset, and long-term relationships with both customers and employees. The culture is direct, pragmatic, and people-oriented, with a strong commitment to service and a willingness to go the extra mile.

As the business continues to grow, the organization is entering a new phase in which greater structure, operational discipline, and management accountability are required to support sustainable expansion while preserving the company’s entrepreneurial spirit.

To support the organization in taking the next step in both qualitative and quantitative terms, we are searching on behalf of our client for a Area General Manager.

Leading operational excellence and organizational growth

The position

The Area General Manager will assume full responsibility for a significant logistics operation, including transport, warehousing, workshop, and administrative functions.

The role combines:

• Operational leadership;
• Organizational professionalization;
• Team development and culture enhancement;
• Financial and performance management;
• Cross-functional coordination and alignment;
• Strategic support for future growth initiatives.

This is a highly visible and impactful position that requires a leader who can balance strategic thinking with a strong hands-on presence.

Tasks & responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Lead and optimize day-to-day operations;
• Strengthen structure, discipline, and accountability;
• Improve operational and financial performance;
• Develop managers and employees;
• Foster a constructive, solution-oriented culture;
• Build trust with employees, customers, and stakeholders;Introduce effective reporting and performance routines;
• Support future expansion and new business development.
• Act as a key operational partner to senior leadership in supporting the company’s long-term evolution.

Organizational Context
The business has grown successfully through strong entrepreneurial leadership, operational commitment, and deep sector knowledge concentrated within key individuals across the organization.

As the company continues to scale, there is a need to reduce operational dependency on specific individuals and enhance alignment across functions.

The successful candidate must be able to respect what has made the business successful while introducing greater management discipline, clearer ownership, and a stronger performance culture.

What Success Looks Like
Within 12–24 months, the successful candidate will have:

• Established a stable and scalable operating environment;
• Improved operational and financial performance;
• Increased accountability throughout the organization;
• Strengthened collaboration across teams and functions;
• Created a more positive and solution-oriented culture;
• Reduced dependency on a limited number of key individuals;
• Built a strong foundation for future growth initiatives.

Success in this role requires the ability to navigate different cultural, operational, and management perspectives while maintaining organizational cohesion and alignment. The role requires a leader who promotes alignment, trust, and collaboration across locations and functions, while avoiding organizational silos or divisive dynamics.

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate offers:

• Extensive senior leadership experience in transport, logistics, or supply chain;
• Proven P&L responsibility;
• Strong operational credibility;
• Experience professionalizing entrepreneurial businesses;
• A successful track record in leading teams through change;Solid understanding of transport legislation and compliance.

International exposure and knowledge of specialized logistics segments are considered valuable.

Leadership Style
The successful candidate must be comfortable leading in a highly operational environment while progressively driving structure, alignment, and scalability, and is:

• Credible and mature;
• Structured and disciplined;
• Entrepreneurial and pragmatic;
• Direct but emotionally intelligent;
• Resilient and solution-oriented;
• Assertive yet respectful;
• Highly discreet and trustworthy.

The person must be able to build trust quickly, communicate clearly, and operate effectively with strong personalities and diverse stakeholder interests.

Candidates who are overly corporate, theoretical, authoritarian, or lacking operational credibility are unlikely to be successful.

Culture Fit
The company values leaders who are visible, fair, decisive, and supportive. Employees respond well to managers who recognize performance, provide clarity, and create a stable and respectful working environment.

The successful candidate will feel comfortable in a dynamic entrepreneurial organization characterized by direct communication, high customer expectations, and a strong sense of ownership.

The offer

Remuneration:

Our client will offer the successful candidate a very competitive compensation package, a challenging job opportunity and excellent career opportunities within a dynamic international organization.

Terms of employment: permanent basis.

Interested?

You are invited to apply for this position by using the form below.

Limbourg & Partners takes care of the recruitment and pre-selection for this position. For more information about our client, the position and the procedure you can contact Harry Kikken, Managing Director (+31 (0)6-205 44 191). If you want to respond immediately, we look forward to receiving your resume with a short motivation letter.