Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Durban (Hammarsdale) | Executive – Fixed Term Contract

Step into a pivotal leadership role where your vision will shape the future of a dynamic manufacturing group. This is an opportunity to lead transformation, drive growth, and build a high-performance organisation.

A five-year, performance-based contract is available for an accomplished Chief Executive Officer to lead a group into its next phase of innovation and sustainable growth. Reporting directly to the Board, the CEO will be accountable for defining and executing strategy, strengthening operational performance, and ensuring long-term profitability and competitiveness across all business functions.

The role requires a hands-on, commercially astute leader who can operationalise strategy across production, finance, sales, supply chain, and human capital. You will be expected to drive business turnaround initiatives where needed, build leadership capability, and ensure the organisation is structured and resourced for success in both local and export markets.

The client is a well-established player within the manufacturing sector, with a strong operational footprint and a clear ambition to scale, innovate, and strengthen its market position through strategic leadership and disciplined execution.

What You’ll Do

• Define and implement group-wide strategy and execution roadmaps
• Oversee full operational performance across all divisions
• Drive business growth through market expansion and product development
• Strengthen organisational design, leadership capability, and succession pipelines
• Ensure strong governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks
• Lead financial strategy, budgeting, and profitability optimisation
• Build and maintain key stakeholder relationships across industry, labour, and finance sectors
• Drive turnaround initiatives and performance improvement where required

What You Bring

• Minimum 10 years’ experience at CEO or senior executive level in a strategic leadership role
• Proven experience within manufacturing, with textiles experience advantageous
• Demonstrated success in business turnaround environments
• Strong financial acumen and commercial insight
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and governance standards
• Experience managing unionised environments
• Relevant Bachelor’s degree, with postgraduate qualifications such as an MBA or equivalent advantageous

What Success Looks Like

• Clear and executable strategy aligned to sustainable growth
• Improved operational efficiency and profitability across the group
• Strong leadership bench and organisational capability
• Successful expansion into new markets and revenue streams
• Robust governance, compliance, and risk mitigation practices
• Positive stakeholder relationships and organisational stability