KION Group
Managing Director - Automation Business Unit (UK)
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Managing Director - Automation Business Unit (UK)
About KION
KION Group is one the world’s leading providers of industrial trucks, warehouse equipment and automation solutions for intralogistics. Headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, KION operates in over 100 countries and employs more than 42,000 people globally.
Through its portfolio of market-leading brands — including Linde MH, STILL and Dematic — KION delivers end-to-end intralogistics solutions spanning industrial trucks, warehouse automation, robotics, software and integrated supply-chain systems.
Innovation, sustainability and digitalisation sit at the heart of KION’s strategy. The Group continues to invest heavily in automation, AI, robotics, software platforms and energy technologies, partnering with organisations such as NVIDIA and Accenture to shape the future of intelligent, autonomous and data-driven supply chains.
About the Opportunity
As part of its investment in the Automation Business Unit and growth of a key division both in the UK & Ireland as well as globally, KION is seeking to appoint a Managing Director to lead the strategic delivery and growth of the Automation Business Unit across the UK and Ireland.
This is a senior, highly visible leadership role with P&L accountability, responsibility for commercial performance, and oversight of complex automation and warehouse projects across multiple markets.
The role sits at the intersection of sales leadership, solution design, project execution and operational excellence. You will lead strategic sales activity for advanced intralogistics solutions — including automation, VNA systems and storage solutions — while ensuring seamless project delivery and handover to regional service teams.
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This is an opportunity for a proven intralogistics or automation leader to shape market strategy, scale a high-growth business stream and play a key role in delivering KION’s long-term automation and digitalisation ambitions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and execute the commercial and go-to-market strategy for the Automation Business Unit.
- Own the full P&L for the ABU cost centre, ensuring profitable growth and effective resource allocation.
- Drive pipeline development, forecasting and executive-level reporting from lead generation through to contract close.
- Oversee the delivery of complex automation, VNA and storage projects, ensuring quality, cost and timeline adherence.
- Collaborate closely with senior leaders across Linde MH, STILL and wider within the group to ensure strategic alignment.
- Define sales targets, budgets and incentive structures, with accountability for commission frameworks.
- Lead, develop and performance-manage Sales Managers and Project / Realisation leaders.
- Champion process standardisation, operational excellence and Health & Safety compliance.
- Build strong internal and external stakeholder relationships, contributing to wider strategy and continuous improvement.
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Requirements
You will be a senior, commercially astute leader with a strong track record in intralogistics, automation or closely related engineered solutions environments.
Specifically, you are likely to bring:
- 10+ years’ experience in intralogistics, warehouse automation, mobile automation or a comparable industry.
- Proven leadership experience in project-led, solutions-based sales environments.
- Strong background in automation system design, conception and project execution.
- Demonstrable P&L ownership and experience managing complex cost centres.
- High level of technical fluency across systems, robotics controls, WMS and ERP environments.
- Excellent commercial judgement, negotiation skills and customer-centric mindset.
- Strong analytical and project management capability.
- Degree-level education in engineering, economics or equivalent industry experience.
- Fluency in English; additional languages advantageous.
- Willingness to travel nationally and internationally.
How to Apply
To request the full candidate brochure, to request a confidential discussion, or to apply please contact our Executive Search Partner, FWB and either of Bryce Robertson or Michael Dickson at applications@fwbltd.com, or call FWB’s office on +44 (0)131 539 7087.
All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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