About the Role
Guildhall is leading the search for a tobacco company building its commercial operations across international markets across several international markets. This hire is being made as the company scales its operations, ensuring commercial groundwork is in place to support growth. It is a rare seat: full commercial ownership of a start-up function inside an established industry.
Package: AED 40,000–45,000 per month, plus housing allowance, commission and annual flight tickets
The role
- Build the go-to-market strategy across multiple revenue streams within the tobacco business.
- across several international markets.
- Appoint and manage distributors, agents and trade partners region by region
- Secure contract-manufacturing clients and negotiate private-label agreements
- Develop relationships with trade and commercial partners as part of the commercial remit.
- Recruit and structure the commercial team as the function scales
- Set commercial targets and budgets, reporting to the CEO and board
What you'll bring
- 10–15 years of commercial or sales leadership in the tobacco industry
- A track record building a commercial function from zero in emerging markets
- Direct experience across multiple revenue streams within the tobacco industry; Cut-rag, Manufacturing/private label, Own product brand
- Experience across at least two of CIS, Africa, Asia or Latin America
- An active network within tobacco trade channels
- Fluent English; Arabic is a strong advantage
- Willingness to travel extensively and spend significant time in target regions
What's on offer
- A founder-level commercial mandate with genuine ownership from launch
- Direct reporting line to the CEO and board
- Housing allowance, commission and annual flight tickets
- A ground-floor seat shaping strategy during an early growth phase.
Why apply through Guildhall
- Boutique executive search firm in Dubai, established 2010
- 8x independent industry awards since 2020
- 4.9-star Google rating from 250+ reviews
- Direct access to the retained consultant running this search, confidentially
Hiring a Commercial Director in the UAE tobacco sector
A Commercial Director in this space typically owns market entry, distributor appointment and brand-building from a UAE base, with an emerging-market export focus. Companies scaling their manufacturing and commercial operations often need experienced leadership in place early. These roles usually cover more than one revenue stream within the tobacco business. Demand for this profile tends to rise during periods of business growth and expansion.
Common questions
What does a Commercial Director do in the UAE tobacco industry?
They own the full commercial agenda for a manufacturing or distribution business, from brand strategy and pricing to distributor appointment and contract negotiation. The role typically spans multiple revenue streams within the tobacco business. They report to the CEO or board and are accountable for market entry, revenue targets and building the commercial team.
What experience do I need to apply?
with direct exposure to multiple areas of the tobacco business. A track record of building a commercial function from zero in an emerging market, along with an active network in tobacco trade channels, is usually essential.
How do I apply?
Apply directly on this page. A Guildhall consultant reviews every application personally and confidentially, and will contact suitable candidates directly.
What does this role pay?
Negotiable on experience and client network
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The Agency Behind This Role
This search is managed by Guildhall — an 8× award-winning executive search and recruitment agency, rated 4.9★ across 250+ Google reviews, recruiting in GCC and across the GCC.