Managing Director - Freight Forwarding

Important: This is a commercial role. You will be expected to be selling while you get the branch up and running. If you don\’t have a track record of achieving at least £500K in annual gross profit, our client will not consider you. If you\’re not confident that you could bring business with you, our client will not consider you. Their focus is ocean imports from Asia. Job Title: Managing Director (freight forwarding with a big focus on ocean freight)Location: UK – Flexible (Any major logistics hub: London, Felixstowe, Southampton, Manchester, Birmingham, etc.)Salary: Up to £200K + commission and potential shares in the UK businessAbout the RoleA US based freight forwarding client of ours is looking for a commercially driven and strategically minded Managing Director to establish and lead their first UK office. You\’d be welcome as an individual, but bringing a team of operators to support your business would be preferable.With established offices in the US, Asia, and Germany, and plans to open three additional offices by year-end — including locations in Belgium and a potential site in the Netherlands — this is a rare opportunity to shape the company’s UK presence at a key stage of global expansion.The role will focus heavily on ocean freight, with the freedom to build a team and operation that meets both local and global market needs.Key ResponsibilitiesLaunch and lead the UK office with full P&L responsibilityLead business development in the UK while you build and lead a high-performing commercial and operational team around youDevelop and implement the market entry strategy for the UK, targeting growth in ocean freightCultivate strong relationships with shipping lines, clients, and supply chain partnersEnsure compliance with UK and international logistics regulations and best practicesAct as a key strategic partner to the international leadership team, contributing to broader European growth and integrationRequirementsSenior leadership experience in freight forwarding, with a strong emphasis on ocean freightThe inevitable contacts with SMEs with a plan to build profit quicklyDemonstrated commercial success, including market development and revenue growthExperience launching or scaling new regional offices or operations is highly desirableDeep knowledge of the UK logistics sector and trade corridorsEntrepreneurial mindset with a hands-on approach and the ability to work autonomouslyWillingness to travel and collaborate closely with international offices across Europe, Asia, and the US