General Manager - Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Our client in the air-conditioning distribution industry is seeking to employ an experienced and commercially driven General Manager to lead and grow their national business operations based in City Deep, Johannesburg.

The successful candidate will take full accountability for profitability, operational performance, branch management, sales growth, and strategic direction across the national business. This role requires a hands-on leader with strong commercial acumen, multi-site operational management experience, and a proven track record within a similar industry

An excellent executive career opportunity awaits a high-performing leader ready to drive operational excellence and sustainable growth.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Commerce, Marketing, or related field
• MBA or postgraduate qualification advantageous
• Minimum 5 years' experience within automotive aftermarket distribution
• Minimum 5 years' senior management experience with direct Profit and Loss accountability
• Proven experience managing multi-site or multi-branch operations
• Strong sales and commercial management background
• Experience leading branch managers and regional teams
• Strong operational, financial, and leadership capability
• Exposure to SAP Business One or similar ERP systems advantageous
• Experience within wholesale or distribution environments advantageous
• Knowledge of automotive air-conditioning systems and refrigerant products advantageous
• Existing relationships within the automotive trade or workshop sector advantageous
• Experience using AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot for reporting, analysis, or business decision support advantageous
• Valid driver's licence

Responsibilities:

Commercial and Financial Management

• Drive revenue growth, GP margins, and overall profitability
• Take full Profit and Loss accountability for the national business
• Manage costs, working capital, and cash flow
• Execute sales and commercial growth strategies
• Recover dormant accounts and develop new business opportunities
• Monitor financial performance and implement corrective action where required

Operations and Branch Management

• Oversee multi-branch operational performance nationally
• Ensure product availability and stock control efficiency
• Improve operational systems, reporting structures, and compliance
• Monitor branch performance and operational efficiencies
• Drive process improvement initiatives across the business
• Ensure adherence to company policies and operational standards

Leadership and Team Development

• Develop, coach, and retain branch managers and sales teams
• Build a high-performance culture across branches
• Drive accountability and continuous improvement
• Provide leadership and direction across all operational areas
• Communicate effectively across all business levels

Customer and Supplier Engagement

• Represent the business nationally with key customers and suppliers
• Maintain and strengthen strategic relationships within the industry
• Support growth within the independent workshop and automotive trade sector
• Drive customer satisfaction and long-term client retention

Please consider you application unsuccessful should you not receive a response within TWO weeks of applying.