Location:          Kenya or South Africa

Division:           Africa & Middle East (AMEA)

Reports to:       Chair of the Global Executive Committee

Type:                 Permanent, Full-Time

Purpose of the Role

The CEO for Africa & the Middle East will lead Bimeda’s operations across the region, delivering sustainable growth, regulatory excellence, digital transformation, and long-term value creation. This role encompasses full P&L accountability, strategic leadership, and regional execution across a complex, high-growth, and diverse geography.

This role operates within a cost-conscious, highly competitive generic veterinary pharmaceutical environment, where commercial aggression, pricing agility, and operational discipline are essential to success. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a sharp focus on margin management, cost control, and customer-driven execution.

In addition to regional commercial and operational leadership, the role is responsible for supporting the onboarding, commercial management, and performance oversight of both internal and external Contract Manufacturing Organisations (CMOs), including third-party CMOs placing products in Bimeda's China facility or manufacturing independently for the region.

The successful candidate will be a strategic yet hands-on leader, with a strong track record in execution, commercial acumen, cross-cultural leadership, and regulatory navigation.

Key Responsibilities

Regional Strategy & Leadership

• Define and execute the Africa & Middle East strategy, aligned with Bimeda’s global vision and objectives.
• Deliver on the region’s 5-year strategic plan, including growth in sales, EBITDA, margin improvement, market share and operating efficiency.
• Drive expansion into new geographies and channels while strengthening the existing commercial footprint.
• Champion a culture of accountability, innovation, cost control, commercial agility, disciplined performance and agility across the regional team.
• Lead the integration and strategic alignment of Afrivet within Bimeda’s broader operational and strategic framework.

Commercial, Digital & Financial Accountability

• Full P&L responsibility for the Africa & Middle East region.
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and capital allocation to ensure sustainable and profitable growth.
• Oversee pricing strategy, market access, distributor performance, and product margin management across a value-conscious customer base.
• Drive the execution of commercial transformation initiatives, including eCommerce channels (e.g. online retails), loyalty platforms (app’s), and CRM adoption.
• Lead product portfolio optimisation, including lifecycle management, NPI execution, and rationalisation aligned with commercial impact.

CMO Strategy & External Partner Management

• Identify, engage, and manage both internal and third-party CMOs operating across the AMEA region.
• Support onboarding of CMO partners whose own-label products are manufactured at Bimeda’s China facility, and oversee broader external CMO relationships supplying to AMEA markets.
• Lead negotiations and performance oversight to ensure alignment with Bimeda’s quality, financial, capacity, and strategic objectives.
• Coordinate with Group Operations, Quality, and China-based teams to ensure seamless execution, regulatory compliance, and cost-effectiveness.

Operational & Supply Chain Execution

• Oversee regional supply chain planning and vendor management, ensuring reliability, resilience, and cost competitiveness.
• Support ongoing process improvement, stock optimisation, and regional sourcing initiatives.
• Coordinate operational alignment between regional teams, China manufacturing, third-party CMOs, and Group functions.

Regulatory, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with all veterinary pharmaceutical regulations, GMP, GDP, and pharmacovigilance standards.
• Proactively manage regulatory complexity across AMEA, including Act 36/101 (South Africa), Middle East frameworks, and evolving AMR/OTC restrictions.
• Lead oversight of all inspections, submissions, and regulatory risk mitigation strategies.

Leadership & People Development

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, diverse regional leadership team.
• Professionalise and strengthen technical field teams, regulatory capabilities, and in-market sales operations.
• Foster a culture of accountability, performance, and commercial discipline across all levels.
• Support succession planning and talent development in line with Bimeda’s values.

Stakeholder & Partnership Management

• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with key distributors, regulators, veterinarians, channel partners, and government authorities.
• Represent the region in Global Executive Committee forums and provide clear, data-driven reporting to Group leadership.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Leadership – Converts global ambition into local impact, with clarity of execution and adaptability.
• Execution & Transformation Leadership – Leads disciplined delivery of growth and operational programmes.
• Commercial & Market Insight – Operates effectively within price-sensitive, generic-focused markets.
• Financial Stewardship – Strong command of margin discipline, cost control, and commercial levers.
• CMO & Partner Management – Navigates complex internal and external manufacturing partnerships.
• Regulatory Navigation – Operates confidently within challenging multi-country regulatory environments.
• Digital & Innovation Orientation – Leverages digital tools and platforms to drive growth and efficiency.
• People & Culture Development – Builds high-performing teams with a culture of ownership and results.
• Risk & Resilience Management – Proactively manages supply chain, FX, political, and operational risk.
• Entrepreneurial Drive – Identifies and delivers on commercial opportunities and new models of growth.

Key Attributes

• Results‑driven, commercially astute, and financially disciplined.
• Humble, values‑led leadership style with a strong sense of accountability.
• Ability to lead across diverse geographies, regulatory environments, and operating models.
• High integrity and ethical standards in all dealings.
• Resilient in navigating volatility, ambiguity, and rapid market change.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science, Pharmacy, Life Sciences, Business or a related field.
• MBA or postgraduate qualification strongly preferred.

Experience

• 8–12 years’ senior leadership experience in veterinary pharmaceuticals, animal health, or a related life sciences industry.
• Proven success in delivering commercial growth and margin expansion in price-sensitive, generic-focused markets.
• Experience managing multi-country operations across Africa and/or the Middle East.
• Strong financial and operational leadership with full P&L accountability.
• Track record of managing third-party manufacturing or supplier networks.