General Manager

General Manager, UK & Europe – CPG Brand (Premium)JD&CO is partnered with a high-growth, founder-led CPG brand that is shaking up its category with a distinctive, award-winning product and bold ambition across the UK and Europe. With distribution already secured in leading retailers and exciting early traction in key markets, the business is now primed for its next phase of scale.We are hiring their first General Manager, UK & Europe, a pivotal commercial leadership role with full ownership of growth across the region.The Brief:As GM, you’ll be the driving force behind the UK's commercial success while steering expansion in key European countries. This is a role for a builder: shaping strategy, strengthening trade relationships, and executing with pace. It’s about combining entrepreneurial energy with the discipline needed to scale well.Lead all UK commercial activity, balancing the full breadth of sales channels (inc on-trade and off-trade)Develop and execute local go-to-market and retail strategies that reflect premium brand and categroy disruptorOversee distributor partnerships across UK and Europe, ensuring strong sell-through and market penetrationPartner closely with founders on brand and growth strategy, acting as their key representative in EuropeOversee forecasting, pricing, stock management, and promotional activityBuild trusted relationships with retailers, distributors, agencies, and trade partnersScale the team thoughtfully as growth accelerates, hiring the right people at the right timeRepresent the brand at industry events, tastings, and launchesYou Must Bring:The ambition to build a sector-defining brand, and the skills to deliver against that ambitionProven commercial leadership experience in consumer goods, ideally within premium drinks or CPGA clear track record of driving growth for early-stage or scaling brandsStrong knowledge of UK retail dynamics, with hands-on distributor management experience (and ideally both on and off trade)Commercial and operational rigour: forecasting, stock, margin management, and promotional planningExcellent communication skills, with the confidence to represent a premium brand to external partnersA collaborative, entrepreneurial mindset — equally comfortable setting strategy and rolling up your sleevesWhy This Is Compelling:A premium, award-winning product with genuine consumer love and strong retail tractionBacked by ambitious investors and founders with global experience and visionOpportunity to own one of the brand’s most critical markets during a defining phase of growthBuild and scale a business across the UK and Europe with significant headroom to growIf you thrive in high-growth, entrepreneurial environments and want to shape the European journey of an exciting premium consumer brand, this is a career-defining role.Finally… As a targeted search, please only apply for this role if you meet the essential criteria we have outlined. We are expecting an exceptionally high volume of applications; sadly, we're unlikely to be able to respond to everyone individually. Thanks for being patient and we'll be sure to get in touch if we're keen to take your application further. JD&CO is passionate about championing diversity and challenging unconscious bias and treat each application carefully. Thank you for your interest and please follow our LI profile page for further updates.

Created: 2025-09-11