General Manager - Export Sales

We are a manufacturing company with an HQ based in KL and we are seeking an accomplished, high-caliber General Manager – Export Sales to lead our global B2B market expansion. Reporting directly to executive leadership, this role will be responsible for driving international sales strategy, expanding footprint across key global territories (ASEAN, Greater China, Latin America, and Europe), and managing a high-performing international sales division.

The ideal candidate brings a proven 10+ year track record in B2B chemical or raw material exports, exceptional multi-regional commercial strategy, and a strong history of leading large sales teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Commercial Leadership

• Develop and execute the global export sales strategy to drive revenue growth, market share expansion, and profitability targets across designated international regions (ASEAN, China, Latin America, and Europe).
• Analyze market trends, trade policies, raw material price fluctuations, and competitor landscapes to position the company's products competitively in international markets.
• Lead international pricing strategies, contract negotiations, and commercial terms for high-value B2B accounts and distributors.

2. Team Leadership & Operational Management

• Directly manage, mentor, and build a high-performing international sales team of 15-20 sales managers, account executives, and regional representatives.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs), sales quotas, and performance management frameworks across all export desks.
• Foster a high-accountability sales culture, driving continuous team development in technical product knowledge, consultative selling, and cross-border account management.

3. Key Account & Regional Market Expansion

• Personally manage and nurture strategic relationships with key global distributors, industrial end-users, and key manufacturing partners across target markets.
• Penetrate untapped market segments in Latin America and Europe while strengthening and defending core revenue bases in ASEAN and Greater China.
• Drive end-to-end B2B sales cycles for specialized chemical products, industrial intermediate materials, and custom technical solutions.

4. Cross-Functional Coordination & Supply Chain Alignment

• Collaborate closely with Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, and Production teams to ensure seamless order fulfillment, demand forecasting, and inventory alignment.
• Partner with technical service and Quality Assurance (QA) teams to address technical compliance, product certification, and customer technical support across foreign jurisdictions.
• Oversee international trade risk, trade credit limits, and letters of credit (LC) in coordination with Corporate Finance.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Business Administration, International Trade, or a related discipline. An MBA or Advanced Commercial Degree is highly regarded.
• Industry Experience: Minimum 10 to 15 years of solid, direct B2B sales and export management experience within the chemical, intermediate raw materials, industrial polymers, or process manufacturing sector.
• Regional Expertise: Demonstrated hands-on commercial experience and established distributor networks across ASEAN, Greater China, Latin America, and Europe.
• Leadership Track Record: Proven experience leading, structuring, and managing a large international sales team of at least 10 direct/indirect reports.
• Language Capabilities: Native or professional business fluency in English and Mandarin (fluent in reading, writing, and speaking) to lead business negotiations, contract reviews, and operational alignment across China and Mandarin-speaking business partners.
• Travel Mobility: High mobility and willingness to travel extensively (10%-30%+ international travel) to trade shows, client sites, and regional offices globally.