Managing Director of Geodata in Reading

A rare and exciting opportunity exists for a senior executive to join a market leading provider of data, insight, and technology enabled solutions. The company is a highly respected, growth orientated organisation operating at national scale.

This appointment will suit an experienced leader who enjoys complexity, values autonomy, and is motivated by long term value creation. The role offers genuine influence, meaningful scale, and the opportunity to shape the future direction of a portfolio that sits at the core of the organisation’s growth and differentiation strategy.

The Organisation: Our client is recognised as a strategically critical data and technology solutions provider. They support decision making across the built environment, professional services, regulated industries, and the public sector. Its services help customers navigate risk, regulation, and commercial complexity by transforming large volumes of specialist data into clear, actionable intelligence.

The organisation operates at the intersection of data, technology, and domain expertise. It is recognised for the depth and quality of its data assets, the sophistication of its digital platforms, and the trust it holds with customers operating in high consequence environments. Its clients include advisory firms, professional services organisations, infrastructure operators, and public bodies, many of whom rely on its services as business-critical tools.

Following a period of sustained investment and transformation, the organisation now operates through a decentralised model, with multiple operating units and strong leadership accountability. Momentum is positive, ambition is clear, and there is a strong appetite for continued growth through innovation, product development, and market expansion.

The Context: As part of this next phase, the organisation is appointing a Managing Director to lead a Geodata focused portfolio comprising several operating businesses spanning core data products, technology enabled solutions, and bespoke services. The portfolio generates significant revenue today, with a clear and credible opportunity to scale materially over the medium term. It plays a central role in the organisation’s future strategy and is regarded internally as a key engine for growth, innovation, and market leadership.

The Role: The Managing Director will have full responsibility for the commercial, operational, and strategic performance of the portfolio. Working closely with the Chief Executive and senior leadership team, they will define vision, set direction, and lead delivery of multi-year business strategies. This role carries full profit and loss accountability and a clear mandate to drive revenue growth, margin improvement, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence. It also includes responsibility for evaluating new growth opportunities, partnerships, and potential acquisitions aligned to strategic objectives.

The role is highly visible. Internally, the Managing Director will act as a senior leader and coach, setting expectations, developing leadership capability, and driving performance. Externally, they will engage with senior customers, partners, and industry stakeholders, representing the organisation with credibility and authority.

The Individual: This opportunity is open to a broad range of senior leaders from data, technology, or solutions led environments. Suitable backgrounds may include geospatial or environmental data, technology platforms serving professional services, software or data solutions sold into regulated or advisory markets, or complex B2B services organisations. The successful candidate will have experience leading multi product or multi business portfolios, with full commercial accountability. They will bring strong strategic judgement, financial discipline, and the ability to balance scalable product development with bespoke, customer driven solutions.

They will be comfortable operating at Board and executive level, confident leading through growth and change, and able to influence without reliance on formal authority. Personal presence, resilience, and emotional intelligence will be essential, alongside a collaborative and customer focused mindset.

The Opportunity: This is a rare and exciting opportunity to lead a strategically important portfolio at a moment of strong momentum. For the right executive, it offers genuine autonomy, scale, and the chance to shape long term outcomes within a respected, high performing organisation.

To apply and have a confidential discussion please contact: Susannah Mallaghan, Senior Consultant Novo Executive Search.