Group Executive Director, Strategy & Business Development

The Group Executive Director, Strategy & Business Development will lead the Group's long-term growth agenda by driving corporate strategy, business development, mergers & acquisitions, market expansion, strategic partnerships, and investment initiatives across its manufacturing, steel, mining, energy, infrastructure, and related businesses.

The role will work closely with the Board, GMD/CEO, and subsidiary leadership to enhance competitiveness, profitability, and sustainable growth across Africa.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Group's long-term strategic plan, annual business plans, and enterprise-wide transformation initiatives.
• Drive business growth by identifying new market opportunities, leading regional expansion, developing strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and revenue diversification initiatives.
• Lead mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, investment evaluations, commercial due diligence, negotiations, post-merger integration, and Board investment proposals.
• Establish strategic KPIs, monitor execution across subsidiaries, oversee portfolio optimization, resource allocation, and provide strategic performance reports to Executive Management and the Board.
• Build a market intelligence function through industry analysis, competitive benchmarking, market research, and strategic outlook reporting.
• Strengthen relationships with government agencies, regulators, investors, development finance institutions, and international partners while supporting investor relations and capital-raising initiatives.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Strategy & Business Development function, fostering innovation, succession planning, and continuous improvement across the Group.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Finance, Management, or a related discipline.

• MBA in Strategy, Finance, Economics, International Business, Industrial Management, or a related field is required.

• Professional certifications such as Ciod, CFA, CIMA, PMP, or equivalent are highly desirable.

• 15 – 20 years of progressive leadership experience, including at least 10 years in executive strategy, corporate development, business development, investment management, or corporate planning roles.

• Proven experience within Manufacturing, Steel, Mining, Infrastructure, Industrial Production, Energy, or Conglomerates, with strong exposure to business transformation, M&A, multi-business operations, African market expansion, investor relations, and capital raising.

• Key Competencies

• Corporate Strategy & Business Development.

• Mergers & Acquisitions.

• Investment Analysis & Financial Modelling.

• Strategic Planning & Business Transformation.

• Market Intelligence & Portfolio Management.

• Corporate Finance & Risk Assessment.

• Commercial Negotiation & Stakeholder Management.

• Executive Leadership & Change Management.

• Strategic Thinking, Innovation & Commercial Acumen.