Business Development Manager (m/w/d) eCommerce in London

APP products are sold in over 150 countries worldwide with manufacturing units around the world. APP and its group companies manage multiple pulp and paper manufacturing and forestry operations across the globe that deliver quality products to meet the growing global demand for paper, packaging and tissue.

As a sustainable and responsible business, APP creates products and operates with care for our employees, society and the environment. We do this by leveraging technology and innovation, partnering with the community and adhering to international business and operating standards across our production and supply chain.

To build APP’s tissue business presence in Europe, we have created several Country Business Development Head positions to start up our consumer Tissue business in these countries, covering United Kingdom, Germany, France and Poland. These Country Business Development Heads will report directly to our Co-Chair, Global Consumer Board, based in Shanghai, China.

As the head of the Company's tissue business in the United Kingdom, this newly created role is responsible for the comprehensive strategy formulation and execution for market entry, business development from scratch, and the establishment and management of a localized team. The core mission is to successfully build the company’s brand presence, achieve sustainable sales growth and market share acquisition within 18-24 months, and lay a solid foundation for long-term growth in the UK.

• Market Strategy & Business Planning: Submit and gain headquarters approval for the inaugural "Market Entry and Three-Year Business Development Plan" report within 3 months of appointment.
• Sales Development & Account Management: Lead business negotiations and finalize cooperation agreements with key retailers, supermarket chains, local distributors, and mainstream e-commerce platforms in the target country.
• Localized Operations & Team Building: Establish and lead the initial local team (including sales, marketing, operations). Complete hiring for core positions and establish team management systems compliant with local regulations and company culture within the first 6 months. Propose localization adaptations for product specifications and packaging design to headquarters based on local market needs. Collaborate closely with the group supply chain department to optimize logistics from production to local warehousing, specifically addressing cost challenges related to the low-density, high-volume nature of tissue products.
• Brand Building & Marketing: Develop and execute annual brand marketing plans, integrating online and offline resources to enhance brand awareness. Prioritize e-commerce and new retail channels, targeting an e-commerce sales contribution of over 20% of total sales by Year 2.
• Financial Management & Risk Control: Ensure healthy accounts receivable and stringent credit risk control to achieve positive cash flow.

Minimum 8 years of experience in the FMCG industry, with at least 5 years focused on the UK market. Proven success in greenfield market development (from zero to one) in a new country, with full-cycle involvement from market research, strategy, channel setup, team building to profitability. Extensive experience and a strong network dealing with major European retailers (e.g. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi, Morrisons, Lidl) or key local channels. Management experience at a Regional General Manager or Country Manager level in a multinational corporation; Bachelor’s degree or above, preferably in Marketing, International Trade, Business Administration, or related fields.

• Strategic & Commercial Acumen: Excellent market analysis, strategic planning, and business modeling skills.
• Sales & Negotiation: Outstanding business development, senior-level negotiation, and key account management skills.
• Omni-channel Operational Knowledge: Deep understanding of modern trade, traditional distribution, and e-commerce models.
• Financial & Data Analysis: Proficiency in interpreting financial statements and using data for business decision-making.
• Language Skills: Native English (written and spoken) is mandatory. Proficiency in another European language (e.g. German) is a significant advantage.

Analytical thinker, able to identify key business challenges and coordinate resources to deliver innovative, practical solutions.