Country Manager Italy

• Build on a strong legacy and help accelerate the organization's next phase
• Enjoy high autonomy and international visibility

About Our Client

Leading content and publishing organization with a strong track record of growth, a highly collaborative culture, and a close-knit leadership team. Combining global scale with local market relevance, it offers a dynamic environment where ambitious leaders can drive impact, innovation, and long-term value creation.

Job Description

The Country Manager will have full responsibility for the Italian P&L and will define and execute the three-year business plan and annual budget. The successful candidate will drive sustainable growth, profitability, innovation, and digital transformation.

The role requires close collaboration with the Head Quarter and other country leaders to leverage group capabilities, share internatioinal practices, and accelerate growth across all business lines. The Country Manager will also represent the Company at Board meetings, presenting strategic plans, progress, and business results.

A key priority will be leading the organisation through its next phase of digital and AI-enabled transformation, accelerating the evolution of products, services, processes, and business models while fostering a customer-centric, performance-driven, and innovation-oriented culture.

The Country Manager will oversee all operational activities of the Italian legal entities, ensuring full compliance with corporate governance, fiscal requirements, and Italian regulations. Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute Company's growth strategy in alignment with HQ's objectives;
• Lead the Italian organisation towards sustainable market leadership and operational excellence;
• Develop and deliver the three-year business plan and annual budget, ensuring achievement of strategic and financial objectives;
• Contribute actively to group-wide strategic decision-making and cross-country collaboration.

Growth & Market Development

• Strengthen Company's brand awareness, reputation, and market influence in Italy;
• Expand consumer reach and increase adoption of Company's products, services, and advice;
• Develop and grow B2C, B2B, B2B2C, B2G, and purpose-driven business opportunities;
• Build strategic partnerships with institutions, corporations, and other stakeholders that create value for consumers and the organisation;
• Identify opportunities to scale successful partnerships and initiatives across the HQ network.

P&L Management & Profitability

• Own and manage the Italian P&L, ensuring sustainable growth and profitability;
• Drive revenue growth across all business lines while improving operational efficiency;
• Increase customer lifetime value and average revenue per user through innovative business models and service offerings;
• Leverage Company's consumer and data assets to create new revenue streams and expand business opportunities;
• Monitor performance rigorously and implement corrective actions when needed.

Innovation & Digital Transformation

• Lead the organisation's digital and AI-driven transformation agenda;
• Accelerate the development of modern, scalable, and customer-centric digital products and services;
• Promote the adoption of data, AI, platform, and service-based business models;
• Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement;
• Leverage group-wide solutions and international practices to maximise efficiency and speed of execution.

Stakeholder Management & Representation

• Represent the Company internally and externally with credibility and influence;
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, including regulators, institutions, partners, customers, and industry leaders;
• Foster collaboration across countries and functions within HQ;
• Contribute actively to governance forums and Board discussions.

People Leadership & Culture

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing leadership team and organisation;
• Drive employee engagement, accountability, and performance;
• Build a culture of collaboration, innovation, customer focus, and results orientation;
• Promote strong cooperation between local and international teams;
• Champion organisational transformation and change management initiatives;
• Ensure adherence to corporate policies, governance standards, and ethical business practices;
• Strengthen a shared sense of purpose and belonging across local operations and HQ.

The Successful Applicant

Education

• Master's degree in Business, Economics, Marketing, or a related discipline;
• MBA is considered an advantage.

Experience & Functional Competencies

• Proven success in senior leadership roles such as Country Manager, General Manager, Managing Director, or equivalent;
• Minimum 15 years of leadership experience in complex, multi-business environments with strong B2C and B2B exposure;
• Experience in digitally enabled service industries such as media, telecommunications, utilities, insurance, consumer services, or comparable sectors;
• Strong track record of delivering business growth, transformation, and operational excellence;
• Significant P&L responsibility with end-to-end accountability for business performance;
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale organisational and digital transformation programmes;
• Experience operating within international and matrix organisations;
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of market dynamics and business strategy;
• Passion for digital innovation, AI-driven transformation, and customer-centric business models;
• Native or near-native Italian and fluent English are mandatory.

Leadership & Personal Attributes

• Customer Focus : Demonstrates a deep understanding of customer needs and behaviours, translating insights into meaningful products, services, and experiences that create long-term value;
• Entrepreneurial Mindset : Identifies opportunities, challenges the status quo, and drives growth through innovation, ownership, and value creation;
• Resilience & emotional stamina : Maintains focus, energy, and effectiveness in complex and rapidly changing environments while supporting others through uncertainty and transformation;
• Learning Agility : Learns quickly, embraces change, and adapts effectively. Demonstrates curiosity, openness, and a continuous improvement mindset;
• Inclusive & networked collaboration : Builds trust and strong relationships across organisational boundaries. Creates inclusive environments where diverse perspectives contribute to better outcomes;
• Empowerment & Results Orientation : Develops people, delegates effectively, and creates accountability. Focuses on achieving ambitious business objectives through others;
• Stakeholder Management : Navigates complex stakeholder environments with diplomacy, influence, and political awareness while maintaining clarity and integrity;
• Communication & Presence : Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and align diverse audiences around a common vision.

What's on Offer

A rare opportunity to lead a respected organisation at a defining moment: accelerating digital transformation, harnessing AI-driven innovation, and shaping the future.We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from candidates of all genders.

Contact

Andrea Policardi

Quote job ref

JN-062026-7040041