Kerry
Country Head & Commercial Lead - Vietnam (Retail)
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Country Head & Commercial Lead, Vietnam – Food and Beverage (Retail) Business
About Kerry
Kerry is the world’s leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Every day, we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier, and more sustainable products consumed by billions globally. Our vision is to be our customers’ most valued partner, delivering sustainable nutrition for a healthier world.
A career at Kerry offers the opportunity to shape the future of food in a global, dynamic environment while exploring growth and professional development.
About the Role
The Country Head & Commercial Lead for Kerry’s Food & Beverage (Retail) business in Vietnam is a highly strategic, results-driven leader responsible for full P&L ownership and driving sustainable, profitable growth in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-evolving markets.
Key Accountabilities
- Own and deliver the Taste & Nutrition (T&T) Vietnam business strategy, ensuring alignment with global and regional priorities
- Lead end-to-end commercial leadership, driving growth across key categories (Beverage, Dairy, Savoury, Snacks)
- Partner with both multinational and leading local players in Vietnam’s food industry
- Shape the regional agenda, representing Vietnam’s market within the Southeast Asia (SEA) leadership team
This role requires a commercial leader with deep ingredients/flavours expertise, a proven track record in business scaling, and the ability to build and lead high-performing teams in fast-paced, complex environments.
Job Title & Position Type
Country Head & Commercial Lead, Vietnam Position Type: Full-time (FT) Permanent Location: Vietnam Reports To: GM & Retail Commercial Lead (Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)
Key Responsibilities
Business Leadership & P&L Ownership
- Assume full P&L accountability, balancing revenue growth, margin expansion, and long-term value creation
- Define and execute a country-specific business strategy aligned with global/regional goals
- Identify and seize new growth opportunities across category expansions, customer partnerships, and applications
Commercial Strategy & Execution
- Develop a winning commercial strategy to drive above-market growth and market share gain
- Optimise the route-to-market model (direct sales vs. distributor relationships)
- Lead pricing, portfolio, and margin management for sustainable profitability
- Implement rigorous pipeline and project management, ensuring high conversion rates and resource prioritisation
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Market Development & Customer Leadership
- Build strategic partnerships with multinational and local Vietnamese food manufacturers, positioning Kerry as the "Most Valued Partner"
- Navigate Vietnam’s relationship-driven yet fast-moving market, blending global account strategies with emerging local champions
- Expand Kerry’s market footprint in strategic segments using technology, insights, and innovation
Cross-Functional & Matrix Leadership
- Collaborate with R&D, Supply Chain, Finance, and Regional teams to deliver customer-centric solutions
- Act as the voice of Vietnam within the regional leadership, shaping priorities and influencing strategy
- Ensure S&OP alignment, service delivery, and customer commitment fulfilment
Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing commercial team
- Develop the next generation of commercial leaders through succession planning
- Foster a performance-driven, agile, and collaborative culture with clear accountability
Innovation, Sustainability & Growth Agenda
- Drive innovation-led growth, leveraging Kerry’s Taste & Nutrition capabilities
- Lead execution of Kerry’s Sustainability 2030 agenda, embedding sustainable nutrition with key customers
- Identify and scale entrepreneurial growth opportunities while maintaining disciplined execution
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with Vietnam’s regulatory, food safety, and commercial standards
- Maintain robust commercial governance for contracts and customer engagements
Professional Qualifications & Experience
Essential
- 15+ years of experience in the food ingredients & flavours industry
- Primary degree in Business (Marketing), Food Technology, or a related field
- Proven leadership as a Country Head, GM, or Senior Commercial Leader in food/beverage
- Strong track record of building and scaling businesses in emerging markets, including Vietnam
- Deep B2B experience in key account management and project-based selling
- Expertise in multi-channel and complex route-to-market models
- Strong technical-commercial understanding of ingredients, flavour development, and food applications
- In-depth knowledge of Vietnam’s food industry (customers, regulations, market dynamics)
- Ability to translate market insights into actionable commercial strategies
- Growth mindset, high ownership, and the ability to think strategically and execute with discipline
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Desirable
- P&L management experience in a fast-growth or emerging market
- Previous experience influencing partner companies at the C-suite level
- Cross-cultural leadership in a diverse organisation
Leadership Competencies
Core traits for success
- Customer Focus: Deliver solutions that exceed client expectations
- Strategic Mindset: Anticipate futures and devise breakthrough strategies
- Ensures Accountability: Demonstrate self-governance and hold teams accountable
- Drives Results: Achieve consistent success under pressure
- Collaborates Effectively: Build partnerships and align stakeholders for shared goals
- Attracts & Develops Talent: Recruit top performers and shape their long-term growth
- Builds High-Performing Teams: Embed strong team identity and unified purpose
- Drives Vision & Purpose: Inspire through a compelling, action-oriented narrative
- Instils Trust & Credibility: Respected for honesty, integrity, and authenticity
- Self-Awareness & Adaptability: Continuously improve through feedback and self-reflection
- Entrepreneurial Mindset: Proactive, agile, and highly energised by challenge
Success Measures
- Consistent above-market revenue growth
- Margin expansion and improved operating profitability
- Market share gains in core product categories
- High pipeline conversion ratio and commercial project execution
- Stronger strategic partnerships with KAM customers
- Development of a motivated, high-performing team
This role represents an outstanding opportunity to lead Kerry’s growth in one of Asia’s most dynamic food markets, while driving sustainable nutrition and commercial excellence.
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