Divisional Managing Director Full Time NEW

Divisional Managing Director – Building Drainage

ACO Technologies plc | Bedford, Bedfordshire

Not every MD role is worth leaving your current role for but this one is….

ACO Building Drainage is not a business in decline looking for a turnaround operator. It is a well-established, internationally backed division of one of the world’s leading water technology groups, with an aggressive growth plan, a loyal and capable team, and genuine commercial space to make your mark.

What it needs now is the right leader to accelerate that growth plan. That leader is not defined by the size of business they come from. They are defined by who they are, how they show up, and what they do when it matters.

About ACO Technologies plc

The ACO Group is a private, family-owned global water technology business, founded in Germany in 1946. It operates across more than 50 countries with 29 production facilities on four continents. In the UK, ACO Technologies plc operates four divisions from its Bedfordshire sites.

The Building Drainage division, based in Bedford, engineers high-performance stainless steel and polymer drainage channels, floor drains, roof drains, grease management systems, bespoke stainless-steel fabrications, and backflow valves. End markets include hospitals, food processing, pharmaceutical, hospitality, commercial construction, and residential wetroom sectors.

The customer base is multi-channel: architects, M&E engineers, main contractors, specialist drainage contractors, and merchant distribution. The commercial model is specification-led. The growth opportunity is real.

The Role

Full P&L. Full Autonomy. Full Accountability.

You will be the Divisional MD for ACO Building Drainage UK & Ireland, reporting to the Group MD and holding full P&L accountability for the division. Strategic direction, commercial performance, operational delivery, people leadership. All of it.

Key responsibilities include:

• Full P&L accountability for the Building Drainage division UK & Ireland
• Development and execution of divisional commercial strategy aligned to ACO Group objectives
• Leadership and development of the divisional management team across Sales, Marketing, Operations, Technical and Finance
• Driving specification activity with architects, engineers, and main contractors across all core sectors
• Management of key accounts and strategic distribution partnerships
• Manufacturing oversight at the Bedford facility, operational efficiency, quality, and capacity planning
• Budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting to the UK MD
• People strategy, talent acquisition, development, and retention across the division
• Representation of ACO Building Drainage at industry events, trade associations, and external bodies

Who We Are Looking For

Two types of person should be reading this right now.

• The MD of a £2m-£5m business who has done it, and done it well, and is ready to step up into a larger, more complex, internationally connected environment with genuine resources behind them.

OR

• The Commercial Director, Sales Director, or General Manager who has been operating at the level of an MD in everything but title and is ready to make that step change official.

In both cases, you will have built something, led something, and owned the outcome. You will know what a P&L feels like under pressure and what it feels like to win.

Essential experience and background:

• Proven track record of P&L ownership:  you have held revenue and margin accountability for a business unit, division, or company of meaningful scale
• Commercial portfolio depth: you have sold, managed, and grown a range of products across multiple channels, not just one product into one market
• Background in building products, construction materials, drainage, manufacturing, or a directly adjacent B2B sector
• Multi-functional leadership experience: you have led teams across sales, operations, technical, and finance
• Strong financial acumen: you can build a business case, defend a budget, and present to a Board with confidence
• Located within 1.5 hours of Bedford or genuinely open to relocation

THE IMPORTANT PART:

What this role demands of you as a person:

• You genuinely engage people. Not because it is a leadership competency on a list, but because you understand that the quality of your relationships is the ceiling of your performance.
• You push momentum and direction. You are not a consensus seeker. You are a pace setter who brings others with you.
• You are transparent. You tell it as it is; to your team, to your peers, and to the Board. You do not manage upwards and undermine downwards.
• You own your errors. No deflection. No blame. You fix it, you learn from it, and you move. Your team will respect you more for it, not less.
• You have a credible presence. You walk into a room and people notice. Not because you demand it, but because you have earned it. You back yourself without arrogance.
• You are people-centric. You build talent, you drive performance, and you know that the business you inherit is only as good as the team you develop.
• You are a respected equal at SMT level: participative, collaborative, and direct. And yes, you need a sense of humour.

The Package

This is a senior appointment and is remunerated accordingly. Full details will be confirmed at briefing.

How to Apply

This search is managed exclusively and on a retained basis by Lanes HR. All approaches are treated as strictly confidential.

To apply or to have a confidential conversation about this role, please contact:

Dawn Simpson Lane FCIPD

Managing Director | Lanes HR Executive Search

dawn@laneshr.co.uk

07903 441167

# If you know someone who would be right for this role, we would welcome a conversation.

All referrals are treated in the strictest confidence.