Head of Global Business Development, Industrial

At Kuehne+Nagel, a sales career means driving long-term business success by mastering sales strategies, nurturing customer relationships, and identifying new opportunities.

It's more than a job

With a sales career at Kuehne+Nagel, you'll drive long-term business success by mastering sales strategies, nurturing customer relationships and identifying new opportunities.

How you create impact

The Head of Global Business Development – Industrial leads Kuehne + Nagel’s global key account program for the Industrial sector, overseeing a portfolio of strategic customers that align with the company’s capabilities and long-term partnership objectives. This role owns the end-to-end, cross-modal commercial journey for global industrial customers, translating sector trends, customer complexity, and scale into sustainable, profitable growth. The position directs a corporate-funded global Industrial vertical team, strengthens collaboration across regions and business units, and shapes Kuehne + Nagel’s Industrial market positioning while serving as a senior ambassador to key customers and stakeholders worldwide.

• Lead Kuehne + Nagel’s global Industrial key account program, ensuring customer portfolios reflect strategic fit, scalability, and long-term partnership potential.
• Direct end-to-end, cross-modal commercial customer journeys that address the complexity of global Industrial supply chains.
• Monitor macro and industry trends (e.g., automation, sustainability, energy transition, geopolitics, regulatory change) and translate them into actionable growth strategies for KN and customers.
• Identify and prioritize future growth opportunities across modes, regions, and Industrial sub-sectors.
• Drive consistent and sustainable commercial performance, delivering profitable growth across the global Industrial customer portfolio.
• Oversee pipeline management, opportunity qualification, forecasting accuracy, and corrective actions where required.
• Set and manage annual growth targets for the Industrial vertical and individual leadership team members.
• Lead, coach, and develop a global Industrial vertical team, fostering accountability, empowerment, and continuous capability building.
• Strengthen cross-regional and cross-functional collaboration, promoting best-practice sharing, tools, and standardized commercial frameworks.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key Industrial customers, acting as a trusted advisor and ambassador of Kuehne + Nagel’s values and leadership principles.

What we would like you to bring

• Master’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 10 years of progressive commercial and business development experience, with at least 5 years in global leadership roles.
• Deep Industrial sector expertise, with a strong understanding of customer ecosystems, supply chain complexity, and industry trends.
• Proven experience managing global key accounts and senior executive customer relationships.
• Demonstrated success driving profitable growth through structured pipeline, account, and performance management.
• Strong understanding of freight forwarding and integrated logistics, including multi-modal solutions.
• Experience leading direct and virtual global teams, fostering collaboration across cultures, regions, and functions.
• Strong commercial, analytical, and influencing skills, with the ability to translate data and customer insight into targeted growth actions.

What's in it for you

At Kuehne+Nagel, you will have the opportunity to grow your expertise, shape processes, and deliver innovative solutions for some of the world’s largest customers. We are continuously expanding our global network and product portfolio, creating career opportunities across diverse functions and regions. As a leader in the logistics industry, we offer a collaborative, digital, and customer-focused environment where you will work with motivated colleagues from around the world.