PROFILE
Head of Commercial with 20+ years' experience leading pricing, margin recovery, and commercial transformation within product-led manufacturing and distribution businesses. Proven track record of reversing margin erosion through pricing architecture redesign, supplier renegotiation, and cost re-engineering.
Strong background in commercial P&L ownership across mid-market (£10–25m) and PE-backed environments, including founding and scaling a product business from a home-based start-up to £1.2m turnover with 40% gross margins and successful trade sale exit. Most effective where hands-on leadership, commercial discipline, and clarity of execution are required.
Led and developed commercial teams of up to 10 direct reports. Particularly interested in businesses requiring commercial transformation, margin recovery, or pricing discipline.
Now seeking:
Permanent Head of Commercial role Open to: UK-wide | International | Hybrid working
Richard Mann
Head of Commercial
Commercial Director
Margin recovery
Pricing strategy
Commercial leadership
Distribution commercial management
Product portfolio management
Supplier negotiation
Reversing multi-year margin erosion, rebuilding pricing architecture, and renegotiating supplier agreements that no longer reflect market reality.
In corporate environments, I've managed 4,000+ SKU portfolios worth £15m in annual buying, led commercial teams of 10+, and recovered gross margin in businesses where previous structures had failed.
As a business founder, I built Premier Porcelain from a home based start up operation to £1.2m turnover with 40% gross margins across 4 x 3PL warehouses and global sourcing, before achieving a successful trade sale.
As a consultant, I've delivered cost engineering projects recovering margin, led UK market entry strategies, and restructured pricing for manufacturing and distribution clients.
If you are satisfied with the information provided so far, then this is where our journey begins. Get to know my career, business history, skills, experience and potential to add value and of course don't hesitate to contact me with any further queries or questions.
Located centrally & with in a 50 mile radius of Manchester & Birmingham with easy access several international airports and excellent commute links across the UK.