Chief Commercial Officer – Africa & Middle East

Job Purpose

• To provide strategic leadership and direction to the Company’s commercial function by developing and executing growth strategies that drive revenue, profitability and market expansion across domestic and international pharmaceutical markets.The Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) will lead Sales, Sales Operations, Business Development, Marketing and Branding to strengthen the Company’s competitive position, deepen customer relationships, expand its global market presence and deliver sustainable business growth in line with the organization’s strategic objectives.

Company Background

• A leading pharmaceutical company in Finished Dosage Formulations.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Strategy

• Develop and execute the Company’s commercial strategy aligned with long-term business goals.
• Drive profitable revenue growth across existing and new markets
•  Identify emerging market opportunities and develop strategic growth plans.
• Establish annual commercial objectives, budgets and business plans.

Sales Leadership

• Lead international pharmaceutical sales functions.
• Develop and implement sales strategies to achieve revenue and profitability targets.
• Monitor   sales   performance, forecasting, pipeline management and customer acquisition.
• Strengthen relationships with key customers, distributors, partners and strategic accounts.
• Drive sales productivity and improve commercial effectiveness.

Business Development

• Identify and develop new business opportunities across regulated, semi-regulated and emerging markets.
• Establish strategic alliances, licensing opportunities, distribution partnerships and long-term commercial collaborations.
• Lead commercial negotiations and contract discussions with customers and business partners.
• Expand the company’s global customer base and market footprint.

Marketing & Brand Management

• Develop integrated marketing strategies to strengthen the Company’s market presence.
• Lead product marketing, portfolio positioning, and commercialization initiatives.
• Build and enhance the corporate brand across domestic and international markets.
• Oversee digital marketing, exhibitions, tradeshows, conferences, and promotional campaigns.
• Drive market intelligence and competitive benchmarking initiatives.

Sales Operations & Commercial Excellence

• Establish robust sales planning, forecasting, CRM and performance management systems.
• Develop commercial dashboards and key performance indicators.
• Optimize commercial processes, pricing governance and sales analytics.
• Improve operational efficiency and customer responsiveness.

Customer Relationship Management

• Develop long-term strategic relationships with key customers.
• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and retention.
• Lead customer engagement initiatives and executive business reviews.
• Address critical commercial escalations and negotiate win-win solutions.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Finance & R&D to ensure timely execution of customer commitments.
• Support new product launches and market expansion initiatives.
• Aligning commercial priorities with operational capabilities.

Financial & Business Performance

• Delivery, revenue, profitability, and market share objectives.
• Prepare annual budgets, sales forecasts and commercial plans.
• Monitor pricing strategies, margins and commercial risks.
• Drive sustainable business growth while maintaining financial discipline.

Team Leadership

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing commercial organization.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration and customer focus.
• Develop succession plans and leadership capabilities within the commercial team.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure   compliance with applicable pharmaceutical regulations, ethical   business practices and company policies.
• Uphold the highest standards of integrity and corporate governance in all commercial activities.

Candidate Profile & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, Life Sciences or a related discipline.
• MBA or Postgraduate qualification in Marketing, International Business or General Management is preferred.
• 18–25 years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Minimum 5–8 years in senior commercial leadership roles.
• Strong exposure to regulated, semi-regulated and emerging markets.
• Experience in leading large, cross-functional commercial teams.