Business Development Manager CEE&MEA

About the role

The Business Development Manager is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving and executing the premium powder growth agenda across the Central Eastern Europe and Middle East Africa region. This position identifies, develops, and secures high-value business opportunities in both existing and emerging markets, ensuring sustainable and profitable growth. Acting as a trusted thought partner to the Global Cocoa and Chocolate teams, the Business Development Manager plays a key role in shaping the region’s long-term growth strategy, strengthening market positioning, and translating strategic priorities into actionable business development initiatives aligned with Global Cocoa and broader Group objectives.

Key Responsibilities Include

Strategic Growth Leadership

• Define and execute premium powder growth agenda across the region (defining right product/customer mix with sales teams)
• Anticipate market trends, customer needs, and competitive dynamics, translating them into actionable strategies with cross-functions (R&D, QA, Supply Chain)

Business Continuity

• Coordinate powder activities across teams and regions, acting as a bridge between sales and internal stakeholders
• Develop a strong network of contacts within the Group - Customer Care, Marketing, Sourcing, Finance and Supply Chain - in order to support day to day business in the region and pro-actively supports the sales team, distributors & customers
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to penetrate high-potential customer segments and geographies (alignment with Chocolate)

Market Dynamics and Analysis

• Utilize data and other functional tools to research potential territories and markets, preparing reports with findings and recommendations
• Understanding regional dynamics and presenting comprehensive demand per sub-region annually are the essentials of the role (lead workshops on competition landscape, market sizing and consumption trends)

Best Practices Implementation:

• Build strong relationships with counterparts within Global Cocoa and Chocolate Regions and introduce best practices to the region from internal and external sources

About You

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Industrial & Food Engineering
• 10+ years in sales, business development or related commercial leadership roles, ideally within global or complex markets (experience in B2B, Food industry is preferred)
• Expertise in structuring and negotiating complex commercial agreements and partnerships
• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical capability, and financial acumen
• Strong understanding of market dynamics and sales processes
• Ability to lead and collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Fluent in English; speaking French is preferred due to the region’s customer base or and any other language in the region
• Regular travel within region and to BC locations (Louviers, Hamburg, Zurich) required (on average 40% of work time)
• Strategic planning and execution
• Project management