Title:  VP, Commercial, Service Unit, P&HS APAC

We are now looking for VP, Commercial, Service Unit for our Packaging & Hygiene Solutions Business Unit in APAC. This position will be based in Shanghai, China.

The Regional Commercial Head, Service Unit, is a senior leader accountable for driving commercial strategy and performance across the organisation.The role ensures efficient, profitable operations while steering resources toward high-growth packaging and hygiene solutions. It also leads the development of strong customer relationships across APAC to accelerate regional growth and profitability.

Additionally, the Commercial Head plays a critical role in upholding ethics, compliance, and governance standards, ensuring all commercial activities adhere to internal policies, industry regulations, and legal requirements. This includes promoting a culture of integrity, transparency, and responsible business conduct throughout the organisation.

In this role you will be responsible for:

Commercial Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the regional commercial operations (including field sales, KAM, application and solution marketing) to maximize sales growth and optimize profits. Accountable for regional sales, gross margin, sales & applications fixed costs, receivables, and demand forecast.
• Contribute to strategic planning and participate in business unit–level decision-making to develop and implement sales strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Accountable for key commercial decisions in the region, including market and customer selection & prioritization, channel strategy, account plan approval, and customer pricing.
• Ensure continuation of a profitable business foundation while redeploying resources effectively into emerging packaging and hygiene solution growth areas.
• Drive the execution of commercial strategies and ensure alignment with long-term business priorities.

Revenue, Profitability & Financial Management

• Manage and optimize the commercial P&L, ensuring strong revenue performance, margin improvement, and cost efficiency.
• Oversee budgeting processes, financial analysis, and forecasting to support sound commercial decisions.
• Identify opportunities to grow sales, enhance profitability, and improve operational efficiency.

Customer & Market Development

• Establish and build strong senior-level relationships with strategic key accounts across the APAC region.
• Strengthen customer satisfaction, retention, and long-term partnership development.
• Monitor market trends, customer needs, and competitive dynamics to identify opportunities for growth.
• Manage supplier and vendor relationships to ensure high-quality, reliable, and competitively priced products and services.

Operational & Process Excellence

• Oversee end-to-end commercial processes across production planning, supply chain, logistics, customer service, and quality control.
• Ensure operational reliability and delivery performance aligned with customer and business expectations.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Project & Risk Management

• Lead and manage multiple commercial projects simultaneously, ensuring timely, on-budget, and high-quality execution.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate commercial and operational risks to ensure continuity and resilience.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead, motivate, and develop high-performing cross-functional commercial teams with clear goals and accountability.
• Foster strong collaboration with internal stakeholders, external partners, and key customers to deliver commercial objectives.
• Promote a culture of ownership, transparency, and customer-centric performance.

Data-Driven Decision Making & Continuous Improvement

• Gather, analyze, and interpret market, financial, and operational data to guide strategic decisions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, empowering employees to identify and implement enhancements across commercial processes.
• Ensure commercial operations evolve to improve efficiency, service quality, and profitability.

Ethics & Compliance

• Ensure all commercial activities, processes, and decisions comply with applicable laws, regulations, and internal company policies.
• Champion the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity, and responsible business practices across the region.
• Embed a strong compliance culture through training, communication, and enforcement of policies and controls.
• Monitor and address compliance risks proactively, ensuring transparency and adherence to governance frameworks.

What you’ll bring to the team:  

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; a Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) is strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in commercial management, business development, sales leadership, or related functions.
• Minimum 10 years in senior leadership roles, leading regional or multi-country commercial organizations.
• Proven global or regional commercial exposure, with experience operating across diverse markets, cultures, and customer segments.
• Proven track record in developing and executing commercial strategies aligned with organizational goals and market dynamics.
• Demonstrated experience leading large cross-functional teams, including sales, key account management, applications, marketing, and customer service.
• Strong background in financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, cost optimization, and profitability improvement.
• Deep understanding of APAC or global markets, customer behavior, and local business practices
• Proven ability to manage commercial risks, oversee complex projects, and drive operational excellence across commercial, supply chain and service delivery environments.
• Strategic & Commercial Leadership – Strong ability to shape commercial strategy, drive growth, manage P&L, and make data-driven decisions.
• Customer & Market Expertise – Skilled in senior-level client engagement, negotiation, key account management, and understanding market dynamics.
• Financial & Analytical Strength – Proficiency in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and managing profitability levers.
• People Leadership & Collaboration – Proven capability to lead cross-functional teams, influence stakeholders, manage change, and build a high-performance culture.
• Operational Excellence & Compliance – Solid understanding of supply chain, quality, and process optimization, with strong commitment to governance, ethics, and continuous improvement
• Sustainabilty and growth mindset

What you can expect from us:

• A high-impact role where your contributions directly influence business growth, innovation, and competitive advantage in the Packaging and Hygiene market.
• Excellent opportunity to be part of Kemira’s sustainability-driven transformation for profitable growth.
• A chance to work in a diverse, inclusive, and international setting, with opportunities to engage with teams and stakeholders across different regions and cultures.
• Flexibility to organize your work between office and remote in a hybrid work culture.

Ready to create better every day? Join Kemira!

Kemira is a global leader in sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries. We deliver tailored products and services to improve the product quality, processes, and resource efficiency of our diverse range of customers. Our focus is on water treatment, as well as on fiber and renewable solutions – enabling sustainability transformation for our customers. In 2024, Kemira reported annual revenue of EUR 2.9 billion with a global team of some 4,700 colleagues. Kemira is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki www.kemira.com