Vice President of Global Business Development

Company Description AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinish delivers high-quality paint finishes to the collision repair industry, fleet and heavy truck manufacturing and repair sectors, and the sign manufacturing industry. The business serves a global customer base with a comprehensive portfolio of trusted brands, including Sikkens, Lesonal, Modern Classikk, Valorem, Dynacoat, Imperium, Wanda, Sikkens Autocoat BT, U-TECH, and Grip-Gard. These brands are recognized for their performance, consistency, and color accuracy, helping customers improve productivity and finish quality. AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinish combines technical expertise, innovation, and service support to enable customers to meet demanding market and regulatory requirements.
Role Description The Vice President of Global Business Development for AkzoNobel Refinish is a full-time remote role responsible for driving international growth and strategic partnerships across key markets. This position leads global business development initiatives, identifying new market opportunities, expanding distribution networks, and strengthening relationships with major customers and partners. Day-to-day activities include setting long-term growth strategies, overseeing international sales efforts, collaborating with regional leaders, and aligning business development plans with overall company objectives. The role also involves negotiating high-impact commercial agreements, analyzing market data and competitive trends, and ensuring that global initiatives support sustainable revenue and profit growth. The Vice President will work closely with product, marketing, operations, and finance teams to develop integrated go-to-market plans and support successful execution.
Qualifications

• Strong international business development and global strategy skills, including International Business Development and Business Development experience.
• Proven track record in Sales and International Sales, particularly in B2B or industrial/automotive coatings or related sectors.
• Advanced Negotiation skills for high-value contracts, strategic partnerships, and cross-border agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional and multicultural teams, with strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities.
• Strategic thinking, market analysis, and financial acumen to evaluate opportunities, build business cases, and manage budgets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional language capabilities are an advantage.
• Experience working in a remote, global leadership capacity with frequent virtual collaboration and international travel as needed.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, International Relations, or a related field; an MBA or equivalent advanced degree is preferred.
• Experience in coatings, automotive, manufacturing, or adjacent industries is highly beneficial.