Introduction
We are looking for an experienced commercial leader to lead and grow our Health & Medical business across South Africa and Anglophone Africa.
In this key leadership role, you will be responsible for leading the sales organisation, developing talent, driving commercial execution and delivering sustainable revenue and profitability growth. You will play an important role in strengthening our market position, building strong customer relationships and contributing to Essity’s purpose of Breaking Barriers to Well-Being.
About the Role
As Sales Director South Africa & Anglophone Africa, you will lead the commercial agenda across the region and be responsible for defining and executing the sales strategy in line with Essity's business objectives and growth ambitions.
You will have full leadership responsibility for the whole sales organisation, including sales managers, key account roles and related commercial teams. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for leading leaders, building organisational capability and driving commercial performance across South Africa and Anglophone Africa.
The role spans multiple customer channels, including hospitals, pharmacies and e-commerce and requires close collaboration with distributors, strategic partners and healthcare stakeholders across the region. Working in a matrix environment, you will play a key role in connecting people, aligning priorities and driving execution across the organisation.
This is an opportunity to join a successful business with strong growth ambitions and make a meaningful impact on the future development of Essity's Health & Medical business across South Africa and Anglophone Africa.
The position is preferably based in or around Durban, South Africa.
What You Will Do
Lead the commercial and strategic performance of the Health & Medical business across South Africa and Anglophone Africa.
Define and execute sales strategies aligned with business objectives, go-to-market priorities and growth ambitions.
Deliver sustainable revenue growth, profitability and market share development through strong commercial leadership.
Lead, coach and develop the sales organisation, strengthening capabilities and building future talent pipelines.
Create a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, customer focus and execution.
Drive growth across hospitals, pharmacies and e-commerce channels while building strong relationships with customers, distributors and strategic partners.
Identify new growth opportunities and support the continued development of the Health & Medical business in the region.
Collaborate closely with Marketing, Customer Service, Finance, Supply Chain and other cross-functional partners.
Contribute actively to the local and regional leadership agenda and support long-term business growth.
Who You Are
- An experienced commercial leader with a track record of delivering sustainable business growth and leading high-performing teams.
- Proven experience within healthcare, medical devices, pharmaceuticals or a related industry.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to translate strategy into execution and deliver commercial results.
- Comfortable leading through others and operating successfully within a matrix organisation.
- Skilled at building relationships, influencing stakeholders and collaborating across functions and markets.
- Passionate about developing people, building capability and creating an inclusive, high-performance culture.
- Experience across multiple African markets, healthcare channels or consumer-oriented healthcare businesses would be considered an advantage.
What We Can Offer You
Our purpose, Breaking Barriers to Well-Being, provides meaning to everything we do. Join us to improve well-being for people and drive positive change for society and the environment.
At Essity, you will be part of a collaborative and purpose-driven organisation where you can make a meaningful impact, develop your leadership capabilities and contribute to the continued growth of our Health & Medical business.
Innovate for Good | Excel Together | Be You With Us
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Application End Date:16 Aug. 2026Job Requisition ID:Essity263938Skills Required
- Proven track record of delivering sustainable business growth and leading high-performing sales teams
- Experience within healthcare, medical devices, pharmaceuticals or a related industry
- Experience leading leaders and building organisational capability in a regional context
- Ability to define and execute sales strategy and translate strategy into commercial execution
- Experience managing multiple customer channels (hospitals, pharmacies, e-commerce) and working with distributors/strategic partners
- Comfortable operating successfully within a matrix organisation and collaborating cross-functionally (Marketing, Customer Service, Finance, Supply Chain)
- Strong stakeholder management, influencing and relationship-building skills
- Passion for developing people, building capability and creating an inclusive, high-performance culture
- Experience across multiple African markets, healthcare channels or consumer-oriented healthcare businesses
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What We Do
Essity - a globally leading hygiene and health company, breaking barriers to well-being. Our expertise in hygiene and health began with the acquisition of the Swedish company Mölnlycke in 1975, through which our roots stretch back to 1849. Today, our sustainable innovations from globally trusted brands, designed for everybody and every body, care for the well-being of 1 billion people in 150 countries every day. Working at Essity is not just a career but a chance to make the world healthier, safer, and more hygienic. Our barrier breakers innovate for good and contribute to shaping a sustainable future. At Essity, every career is as unique as the individual. We empower employees to excel together and reach their full potential in a winning culture motivated by a powerful purpose. We provide a sustainable work-life based on flexibility for both employees and employers. At Essity, we are committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in everything we do. It is the key to our success in creating an inclusive, collaborative, and caring company culture where you can be you with us. Our purpose of Breaking Barriers to Well-being, is to enable customers and consumers to lead fuller lives at all stages of life. Our leading global brands include TENA, Tork, Actimove, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 36,000 employees. Net sales in 2022 amounted to approximately SEK 156bn (EUR 15bn). The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. If you want to join a company where dedication to people is powered by innovation, welcome to Essity
