Job Description

Managing Director / Deputy Managing Director
Location: Lagos, Nigeria (Expatriate Assignment)

We are supporting a well-established shipping agency business in Nigeria in the appointment of a Managing Director / Deputy Managing Director as part of a planned leadership transition.

This is a planned succession, not a reactive replacement, with the business assessing the long-term leadership structure required for the next 5–10 years.

The company has a strong local reputation, a stable client base, and a highly experienced team with long tenure.

The role offers a clear pathway into full leadership responsibility, with a structured transition alongside the current Managing Director (minimum two-month overlap, likely longer depending on the candidate), and ongoing advisory support post-handover.

This opportunity is suited to someone looking to take ownership of an established, profitable operation within an owner-led environment, with a high degree of autonomy.

You will take responsibility for the operational and commercial leadership of the business, working closely with principals and key clients to maintain performance and support future growth.

Key responsibilities include:

• Full operational and commercial oversight of the shipping agency business
• Building and maintaining relationships with principals, charterers and key clients
• Driving revenue performance while maintaining operational discipline
• Full P&L responsibility
• Leading and supporting an established local team, including a long-tenured General Manager
• Ensuring continuity of culture, client relationships and operational standards during transition
• Supporting expansion of principal relationships, including Chinese principals
• Evaluating potential development of bulk clearing and forwarding capability

The focus is on ensuring a seamless leadership transition, maintaining client relationships, and supporting disciplined commercial growth.

This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring regular presence across port operations, clients and agents — not a purely office-based position.

Candidate profile

• Senior leadership experience within shipping agency operations
• Experience within bulk liner or shipping agency environments
• Strong operational and commercial track record, including P&L ownership
• Experience operating in emerging or complex markets
• Comfortable in an owner-led, low-bureaucracy environment
• Able to integrate into established teams and build credibility
• Long-term commitment to an international assignment (5–10 years)

Experience in West Africa, bulk operations or principal management is advantageous.

If this role is of interest, or you would like to discuss in more detail, please get in touch for a confidential conversation.