At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global growth and strategy for a renowned insurance brand.
- Company: AXCO, part of Wilmington plc, known for its expertise in the insurance industry.
- Benefits: Generous salary, 30 days annual leave, hybrid working, and excellent health benefits.
- Other info: Join a culture that values inclusivity and individual contributions.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on a global scale while leading a talented team.
- Qualifications: Extensive insurance industry experience and proven leadership in commercial roles.
The predicted salary is between 170000 - 200000 £ per year.
Company Outline
Location: UK / Hybrid - 2/3 days in our London office
Salary: £170,000+ DoE per annum + Excellent Benefits
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent
What We Can Offer You:
- 30 Days Annual Leave (Pro-Rata)
- Additional Holiday Purchase
- Hybrid Working
- Performance-Related Bonus
- Life Assurance
- Vitality Private Healthcare
- Subsidised Gym Memberships
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Discount Vouchers
- Access to Wellbeing Resources
Job purpose, tasks and responsibilities
As Managing Director of AXCO, part of Wilmington plc, you will be accountable for the overall leadership, commercial performance, and future growth of the business globally. Owning AXCO's global commercial performance and strategic direction, with full P&L accountability for revenue growth, profitability, forecasting, pricing, cost management, and sustainable expansion across international markets. Delivering a balanced growth strategy across customer retention (c.95%+), new business acquisition, pricing optimisation, cross-sell/upsell, and expansion into new customer segments, geographies, and adjacent markets, including key growth markets such as the US.
Acting as executive sponsor for product management and innovation, driving a commercially robust product pipeline, product-led growth, and deeper customer engagement to strengthen AXCO's competitive position. Leading global sales, marketing, and go-to-market execution, ensuring strong alignment across product, marketing, and commercial teams to drive new logo acquisition and maximise growth across the existing portfolio. Overseeing the commercial success of AXCO's broader portfolio, including its conferences, awards, and market engagement initiatives. Leading and developing a c.50-person organisation, providing direct leadership to senior functional heads while fostering a high-performance, commercially focused, and inclusive culture. Partnering closely with Wilmington Group shared services and reporting to the Executive Committee, ensuring effective execution, governance, risk management, and compliance across the business.
What's the Best Thing About This Role?
This is an opportunity to lead an established global brand with an exceptional reputation and a deeply knowledgeable team who are recognised as experts in their field. You'll have the platform to drive meaningful commercial impact, strengthen performance, launch innovative products, enter new markets, and build on the strong cultural foundations already in place.
What's the Most Challenging Thing About This Role?
Balancing short-term commercial performance with long-term strategic transformation. You will be expected to protect and grow a highly successful subscription business, drive improved commercial outcomes, and embed a stronger performance culture while sustaining team engagement, preserving expertise, and leading through a period of change in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Essential and desirable capabilities
To be successful in this role, you must have:
- Significant years of insurance industry expertise.
- Proven general management experience as a Managing Director, General Manager, or senior divisional leader with full commercial accountability.
- Strong commercial acumen, including experience driving growth in subscription-based business models and delivering against clear targets.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and scale new products in response to customer and market needs.
- Track record of product diversification within or to the insurance industry.
- Track record of delivering high growth >20%.
- Experience operating effectively within a group or shared services environment.
- Hands‑on leadership approach, combining strategic thinking with operational delivery and people leadership.
To be successful in this role, it would be great if you have:
- Background combining both insurance market expertise with technology-enabled or data-driven business models (e.g. InsurTech).
- Experience leading internationally focused businesses with a significant US customer presence.
- Exposure to events or community-led revenue models alongside subscriptions.
We celebrate individuality and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. As a Disability Confident employer, we shortlist all applicants who meet the essential role criteria and guarantee an interview for candidates with disabilities who meet these criteria.
The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this role. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position. Please note that this role may remain advertised until an offer of employment has been made.
Global Managing Director — Growth & Strategy Leader employer: Wilmington plc
AXCO, part of Wilmington plc, is an exceptional employer that offers a dynamic and inclusive work culture, fostering growth and innovation within the insurance industry. With a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing, we provide generous benefits such as 30 days of annual leave, hybrid working options, and access to private healthcare, ensuring our team members thrive both personally and professionally. As a leader in a globally recognised brand, you will have the opportunity to drive meaningful impact while being supported by a knowledgeable team in a collaborative environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Managing Director — Growth & Strategy Leader
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like Wilmington plc!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Global Managing Director — Growth & Strategy Leader position at Wilmington plc via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Global Managing Director — Growth & Strategy Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at Wilmington plc.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to Wilmington plc’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wilmington plc
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to Wilmington plc. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at Wilmington plc. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to Wilmington plc.
