Managing Director, Successful Engineering SME

South East England
Manufacturing and Engineering
Permanent
Competitive
Caroline Crotty
caroline.crotty@pod-talent.com
JOB-7242
08-Sep-2026

A rare opportunity to lead an established, profitable and independently owned business with a century of heritage, sales of over £20m, and an enviable reputation in its field.

The retiring Managing Director, in post for over two decades, is stepping down, creating the chance to lead the next chapter of a business that designs and manufactures highly engineered products relied upon in some of the world's most demanding, safety-critical environments.

This is a genuine full P&L leadership role with real autonomy, backed by an engaged, low interference owner. The business is financially exceptional, with strong margins and substantial cash reserves available for acquisitions, and it is growing through a proven acquisition playbook and international reach across critical end markets.

We are looking for a leader who has:

  • Owned the whole P&L of a business, where the result genuinely rested with them
  • Led at the most senior level in a small to mid sized, technical, B2B organisation
  • A background in sectors supplying regulated, safety critical markets such as defence, nuclear, aerospace, oil and gas, or medical
  • The commercial strength to grow revenue, win major accounts and drive acquisitions
  • Genuine international business experience

Just as important is character. We want someone ambitious and hungry, commercially creative, straight talking, high in emotional intelligence, and credible from the boardroom to the shop floor.

The role is based in the M3 corridor with regular onsite presence and carries significant international travel. Due to the nature of this role, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain UK Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance.

Competitive package. Relocation support available.

Apply in confidence, or contact Caroline Crotty at Pod Talent for a discreet conversation (caroline.crotty@pod-talent.com).

Caroline Crotty

Head of Practice - Global Manufacturing and Technical

View My Profile