Managing Director

The organisation

Wrist is a global leader in maritime supply and logistics, providing comprehensive ship supply, offshore services, marine logistics, and innovative digital solutions to the shipping industry. With 35 locations worldwide, Wrist serves over 750 ports, ensuring vessels have the products and services they need, wherever they operate. The company combines local expertise with a global network, delivering efficient, reliable, and customer-focused solutions while maintaining high standards for quality, safety, and sustainability.

In 2025, Wrist entered a new phase of accelerated growth following its acquisition by J.F. Lehman & Company, a private equity investor with deep maritime expertise. The company’s strategy focuses on profitable growth through operational excellence, digitalization, and disciplined integration of recent acquisitions.

The Rotterdam hub employs about 150 people, supported by offshore processing in Manila. It integrates several entities, including Wrist-Klevenberg, C. Maat Transport, and Den Helder Stores. Rotterdam functions as both a commercial and operational anchor within Europe’s largest port, providing ship supply, marine logistics, catering, and customs clearance.

The position

The Managing Director Rotterdam will lead one of Wrist’s most important European hubs. This is a strategic leadership role that requires a hands-on, commercially sharp, and resilient executive capable of driving both performance and transformation. The Rotterdam site operates in a highly competitive market and plays a dual role as customer gateway and supplier hub within the group.

The position offers the mandate to strengthen operational foundations, restore profitability, rebuild engagement, and align the organization with Wrist’s next phase of growth under private equity ownership.

Tasks & responsibilities

Leadership and Culture

• Lead and inspire a visible, connected leadership team with strong alignment to global strategy and local ownership.
• Build a transparent, accountable culture that values collaboration, initiative, and hands-on engagement.
• Strengthen team stability by addressing retention, motivation, and leadership development.

Commercial and Strategic

• Drive margin improvement through pricing discipline, customer segmentation, and contract profitability.
• Develop and execute growth plans in marine logistics and digital marketplace segments.
• Represent Rotterdam with key customers, partners, and group stakeholders, building trust and credibility in the market.

Strategic & Financial

• Deliver commercial growth through revenue, margin, and EBITDA improvement.
• Execute local implementation of global strategies while tailoring to Rotterdam-specific needs.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for organic growth and M&A integration.
• Balance cost efficiency with service excellence.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee operations, logistics, procurement, and warehousing across Rotterdam.
• Streamline processes, improve performance, and implement scalable practices.
• Ensure seamless delivery of customer orders, accuracy, and quality of service.
• Lead operational improvement projects and change initiatives in a matrix context.

Candidate profile

Skills & Competencies

• Decisive, visible, and resilient leadership presence with the ability to unite teams and maintain momentum under pressure.
• Strong commercial mindset, able to identify margin drivers and create customer value beyond price.
• Analytical and structured, capable of linking operational detail to strategic outcomes.
• Pragmatic and solution-oriented, balancing discipline with adaptability.
• Culturally aware, collaborative, and credible across all organizational levels.
• Integrity, stamina, and energy to lead transformation in a demanding environment.

Knowledge & Experience

• Leadership in wholesale trading is a must.
• Commercial acumen B2B service sectors is a must.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in related fields.
• Proven P&L responsibility in businesses with €70–150m revenue
• Track record in driving sustainable revenue, EBITDA, and cash flow growth while maintaining high customer satisfaction.
• Experience in multi-site operational excellence and process improvement.
• Skilled in team management, embedding performance culture, and organizational alignment.
• B2B industrial wholesale background with understanding of operational complexity, commercial models, and customer service expectations.

Interested?

You are invited to apply for this position by using the link below. For more information, contact Righardt at +31630614949.