Senior Key Account Manager
Industry: Clinically Tested Functional Ingredients for Food, Beverage, and Dietary Supplements.
EMEA — Spain · Sales Leadership · Executive Search · Director
The Challenge — Finding an international sales leader ready to scale a science-backed ingredient portfolio
A leading provider of clinically tested functional ingredients was expanding its international presence and required a Senior Key Account Manager for Spain to drive growth across the European market. The role demanded a high-caliber sales leader capable of managing key accounts and expanding distribution of branded, science-backed ingredients.
- Director-level sales experience with a strong background in ingredient distribution
- Minimum 10 years in senior management sales roles within the dietary supplement or food ingredients industry
- Deep expertise in branded and patented ingredients, particularly those supported by clinical trials
- Proven ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with manufacturers and distributors across Europe
Our Approach — A proactive, network-driven search built for a competitive market
This was a proactive, strategic search that Kalon Executive Search had been monitoring as our client prepared for international expansion. Recognizing the competitive and specialized nature of the role, we applied our proprietary search process and extensive European network to deliver exceptional results:
- Launched a targeted search across Europe, focusing on executive-level sales leaders in the functional ingredients and dietary supplement sectors
- Leveraged our advanced recruiting systems, broad industry relationships, and strategic headhunting to identify and engage high-caliber candidates across EMEA
- Expanded our talent pipeline throughout the EMEA and APAC regions while providing the client with valuable market insights
- Conducted thorough evaluations to ensure both technical expertise and cultural alignment, while navigating the challenge that many top international professionals highly value long-term stability and tenure
The Result — A key leader in place, driving growth from day one
Our persistence and targeted approach paid off with the successful placement of an outstanding Senior Key Account Manager based in Spain. She accepted the offer and has quickly become a key leader within the organization, driving continued growth and strengthening its position in the European market.
Outcome: The Kalon team is proud to have supported our client's international expansion by securing a seasoned sales leader who brings deep industry expertise, strong distribution experience, and a proven track record with branded, clinically supported ingredients.