Strategic Sales Manager - Nordic & Baltic regions

Axalta has remained at the forefront of the coatings industry by continually investing in innovative solutions. We engineer technologies that protect customers’ products – whether they are battling heat, light, corrosion, abrasion, moisture, or chemicals – and add dimension and beauty with colourful finishes. We have a vast and ever-evolving portfolio of brands primed to play an important part in everything from modernizing infrastructure around the world to enabling the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles.

We are looking for a commercially driven and consultative Strategic Sales Manager to accelerate growth across the Nordic and Baltic regions, covering Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.

Reporting to the Strategic Sales Director, you will be responsible for identifying, developing, and winning strategic customers within the collision repair and body shop industry. Through a consultative sales approach, you will help customers improve profitability, performance, and operational excellence by leveraging Axalta's solutions, services, and expertise.

This role operates as part of a centralized EMEA Strategic Sales organization while working closely with local sales, technical, marketing, and key account teams. The position requires approximately 30% travel across the Nordic and Baltic regions, with an ideal location in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and secure new strategic accounts across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.
• Build strong relationships with body shop groups, MSOs, dealership groups, distributors, and independent repair networks at both operational and executive levels.
• Manage strategic sales opportunities through a consultative selling approach, focusing on improving customer performance, profitability, and long-term growth.
• Engage with decision-makers including owners, general managers, procurement leaders, and C-level stakeholders.
• Create and execute proactive account plans, including regular business reviews and growth strategies.
• Analyze customer operations, processes, and KPIs to identify opportunities for improvement and value creation.
• Present and position Axalta's services, tools, and business solutions to support customer success.
• Collaborate closely with Strategic Sales, Retail and Indirect Sales, Marketing, Technical, Training, and Business Services teams to deliver a seamless customer experience.
• Maintain accurate sales pipeline management, account documentation, and activity tracking through Salesforce (SFDC).
• Contribute to the implementation of EMEA Strategic Sales methodologies and best practices.

Key Requirements

• Proven success in strategic sales, business development, or key account management.
• Strong track record of winning and growing large, complex customer accounts.
• Consultative sales mindset with excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to engage and influence stakeholders from operational teams to C-level executives.
• Knowledge of the body shop and collision-repair industry is a strong advantage.
• Shop implementation experience and familiarity with key customers and prospects are desirable.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical capabilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently in a regional role.
• Fluent English required; Nordic language skills are a plus.
• Willingness to travel approximately 30% across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.

Axalta operates its business in two segments: Performance Coatings and Mobility Coatings, which serve four end markets, including Refinish, Industrial, Light Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle, across North America, EMEA, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Our diverse global footprint allows us to deliver solutions in over 140+ countries and coat 30 million vehicles per year. We’ve recently set an exciting 2040 carbon neutrality goal, in addition to 10 other sustainability initiatives, and we take pride in working with our customers to optimize their businesses and achieve their goals. 

Our Company:

Axalta has remained at the forefront of the coatings industry by continually investing in innovative solutions. We engineer technologies that protect customers’ products – whether they are battling heat, light, corrosion, abrasion, moisture, or chemicals – and add dimension and beauty with colorful finishes. We have a vast and ever-evolving portfolio of brands primed to play an important part in everything from modernizing infrastructure around the world to enabling the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles.  

Axalta operates its business in two segments: Performance Coatings and Mobility Coatings, which serve four end markets, including Refinish, Industrial, Light Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle, across North America, EMEA, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Our diverse global footprint allows us to deliver solutions in over 140+ countries and coat 30 million vehicles per year. We’ve recently set an exciting 2040 carbon neutrality goal, in addition to 10 other sustainability initiatives, and we take pride in working with our customers to optimize their businesses and achieve their goals.

Axalta may use technology-assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to support certain aspects of the recruitment and selection process. These tools may be used to help manage applications, identify job-related qualifications, and assist recruiter review. All hiring decisions involve human oversight and review.

Recruitment Fraud Alert: We take candidate safety seriously. If you believe you’ve encountered a fraudulent job posting claiming to represent our company, please include a link or screenshot and report it to [email protected].

This is an active opening for which we are recruiting to fill immediately.