Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-growth manufacturing company, driving M&A and operational excellence.
- Company: Blair West supports a rapidly scaling manufacturer with strong client relationships.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, equity participation, and the chance to shape a growing business.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting growth journey with autonomy and board-level influence.
- Qualifications: Proven CEO or COO experience in private equity-backed businesses is essential.
- Other info: Geographic flexibility and onsite presence are key for this role.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Job Description
Blair West is supporting a high growth specialised manufacturer of advanced components, in their search for a CEO.
The business has scaled rapidly whilst maintaining exceptional EBITDA margins and enjoys deeply embedded relationships with its internationally significant clients. This is a key leadership appointment, as the business completes a Private Equity investment round and embarks on a growth strategy comprising customer diversification, M&A, and investment in operational excellence that will result in a vertically integrated, market-leading Group. Geographic flexibility is essential and relocation may be required.
The opportunity:
- Lead the business at the Group level, owning and delivering the overall Value Creation Plan in alignment with private equity stakeholders.
- Drive M&A strategy, including identifying, evaluating, securing and integrating acquisitions across the UK and internationally.
- Embed best-practice operational standards across multiple manufacturing sites to support scale and efficiency.
- Build and develop a high-performing senior leadership team across key functions.
- Champion continuous improvement, lean principles, and performance culture across the group.
- Lead commercial negotiations with major customers and partners to drive profitable growth.
- Deliver group-wide KPIs, ensuring data-led decisions and strong operational governance.
- Represent the business to investors, stakeholders, and key customers.
- Operate as a hands-on leader with presence across the organisation, on-site 3-4 days a week.
You’ll be the ideal candidate for this position if you have:
- Proven experience as a CEO or COO within a private equity-backed business, ideally at a £20m+ EBITDA level.
- A successful track record of delivering strategic M&A activity, including acquisition integration.
- Experience leading scaled manufacturing operations.
- Strong background in value creation planning and delivery across multiple sites.
- Demonstrable success in implementing KPI frameworks and driving process improvements.
- Experience leading commercial negotiations and securing major contracts.
- A people-first leadership style, with the ability to motivate, develop and retain senior teams.
- Willingness to be based onsite 3–4 days per week and travel as required. Geographic flexibility is key to success in this role as it is based in a relatively remote location and will be supplemented by further acquisitions across a diverse geography.
The benefits included with this opportunity:
- Significant opportunity to lead a high-growth, PE-backed organisation with autonomy and board-level influence.
- Competitive package with equity participation.
- Direct access to a highly supportive and ambitious investment team.
- Opportunity to shape and scale a business during an exciting growth journey.
Our commitment
Blair West is an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and inclusion at every stage of the recruitment process. We are committed to fairness, equality, and ongoing diversity training for our team to give our candidates and clients a feeling of belonging during their experience with us. Please speak to their consultant if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during their experience with us.
Chief Executive Officer employer: Blair West
Contact Detail:
Blair West Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Executive Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the private equity and manufacturing sectors. Attend industry conferences, seminars, and networking events to connect with key players who might provide insights or referrals for the CEO position.
✨Tip Number 2
Research the company thoroughly, including its recent growth strategies and M&A activities. This knowledge will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your genuine interest in leading their operations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your previous experiences in detail, particularly those related to value creation and operational excellence. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams and driven performance improvements in similar environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership style by highlighting your people-first approach. Be prepared to discuss how you motivate and develop senior teams, as this is crucial for the role and aligns with the company's values.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Executive Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience as a CEO or COO, particularly in private equity-backed businesses. Emphasise your achievements in M&A, operational excellence, and value creation planning.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, address how your leadership style aligns with the company's people-first approach. Discuss your track record in driving profitable growth and your ability to build high-performing teams.
Showcase Relevant Experience: Provide specific examples of your past successes in leading scaled manufacturing operations and implementing KPI frameworks. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact on previous organisations.
Highlight Geographic Flexibility: Since geographic flexibility is essential for this role, mention your willingness to relocate and travel as required. This shows your commitment to being present and hands-on within the organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blair West
✨Demonstrate Strategic Vision
As a CEO, it's crucial to showcase your ability to develop and execute a strategic vision. Be prepared to discuss your previous experiences in leading growth strategies, particularly in private equity-backed environments, and how you plan to align the company's goals with stakeholder expectations.
✨Showcase M&A Expertise
Given the emphasis on M&A in this role, come equipped with specific examples of successful acquisitions you've led. Discuss your approach to identifying targets, evaluating opportunities, and integrating new businesses into existing operations.
✨Highlight Operational Excellence
Talk about your experience in implementing best-practice operational standards across multiple sites. Be ready to share how you've driven efficiency and scale in manufacturing operations, as well as any relevant KPIs you've established to measure success.
✨Emphasise People-First Leadership
This role requires a strong focus on team development and retention. Prepare to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've motivated and built high-performing teams, especially in challenging environments.
