Chief Marketing Officer CMO - Construction Material

Client of Business Lobby

A leading holding company in the steel industry is looking to hire a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). This is a strategic executive role, responsible for accelerating revenue growth, reinforcing market positioning, and transforming in-depth customer insights into effective commercial strategies across the group s core markets. This position will drive the evolution of the company s go-to-market approach, pricing strategy, distribution framework, and demand-generation model, working closely with the CEO and Operations leadership to ensure that sales, product, and digital transformation initiatives remain customer-focused and aligned with the overall corporate vision. The role combines strategic direction with hands-on execution to deliver tangible commercial outcomes within complex, multi-market African environments.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Commercial Growth

• Design and execute a data-driven marketing strategy that supports the company s distribution expansion and commercial goals.
• Lead and manage the brand and positioning, ensuring a clear and differentiated market presence that enhances visibility and drives application-led sales.
• Translate economic trends, competitive insights, and market data into actionable commercial plans across regions and product lines.
• Own and manage the annual commercial budget, ensuring marketing investments are aligned with revenue targets and deliver strong ROI.
• Drive go-to-market and expansion strategies for new regions and product offerings in collaboration with the CEO and Operations teams.

Customer Insights & Buying Behavior

• Conduct in-depth analysis of customer purchasing behavior, market intelligence, and demand patterns to identify opportunities, anticipate market changes, and shape go-to-market strategies.
• Lead initiatives to capture direct insights into customer expectations, unmet needs, and channel economics across key catchment areas.
• Develop customer segmentation and retention strategies to enhance the customer lifecycle, profitability, and retention rates.
• Regularly deliver market intelligence reports and customer behavior insights to the executive leadership team.

Sales & Digital Transformation

• Collaborate with the leadership team to execute the Sales Team Transformation workstream, ensuring marketing initiatives equip sales teams with the necessary tools and content.
• Define and lead marketing requirements for strengthening the Digital Backbone (e.g., OMS and related platforms), with a focus on improving customer experience and increasing digital adoption.
• Oversee the development and optimization of both digital and traditional channels, including online platforms, distributor networks, and physical depots/offices.
• Establish and drive the company s e-commerce and digital marketing roadmap, covering social media strategy, content marketing, and SEO/SEM initiatives.
• Implement KPIs and performance dashboards to monitor digital channel ROI and sales conversion metrics.

Distribution & Channel Strategy

• Lead the management of distribution channels, selecting the optimal mix of digital and traditional channels to drive lead generation and sales.
• Execute the Distribution Expansion Strategy across domestic and international markets, ensuring alignment with growth objectives.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with key distributors, agents, and channel partners across Africa.
• Perform regular channel performance evaluations and implement corrective actions when required.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing international marketing and commercial team, promoting a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement aligned with the company s competency framework.
• Ensure clear definition of roles and responsibilities within the commercial function to enhance collaboration and foster a shift from an I to a We culture.
• Support both personal and professional development initiatives, including mandatory training programs identified by the People & Culture Department.
• Review and approve staffing needs, participate in senior-level interviews, and lead talent acquisition efforts for the marketing and commercial teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 15 years of progressive experience in commercial and marketing leadership within an international, B2B, or industrial environment.
• Proven and verifiable experience in analyzing and leveraging customer buying behavior, market research, and competitive intelligence to achieve measurable business outcomes.
• Strong preference for candidates with experience in steel, metals, commodities, or heavy industrial sectors.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing distribution strategies and leading organizational transformation.
• Experience managing or overseeing digital transformation initiatives, including CRM and e-commerce platforms.
• Master s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline from a recognized institution.
• Prior experience managing marketing operations across multiple countries simultaneously.

Technical Skills

• In-depth understanding of African trade ecosystems, distributor financing models, and infrastructure-driven demand.
• Strong knowledge of steel manufacturing, industrial product markets, and B2B commercial dynamics.
• Proficiency in market intelligence tools, CRM systems, and data-driven marketing platforms.
• Advanced understanding of digital marketing channels, e-commerce, and online distribution management.
• Strong financial acumen, with the ability to manage commercial budgets and evaluate marketing ROI.
• Fluency in English + in French - Portuguese is a strong advantage

Work Conditions

• Working Hours: Standard business hours with flexibility required to accommodate multi-time-zone team management and operational needs.
• Travel Required: Extensive regular travel across African operations, distributor sites, and key customer engagements (estimated 30 40%).

Location

• Dubai, UAE