Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: Connecticut (with travel to Massachusetts and Pennsylvania locations)

Company Overview:

Our client is a dynamic industrial distribution business operating across three key locations in the Northeast. The company values hands-on leadership, strong interpersonal skills, and a culture of teamwork, particularly with a blue-collar workforce. The business is seeking a visionary leader to professionalize operations, drive significant growth, and strengthen its position in the market.

The Opportunity:

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will serve as the strategic and operational leader of the company, overseeing all aspects of day-to-day operations across its three locations. Reporting directly to the board. The CEO will be responsible for driving operational excellence, sales growth, and cultural transformation. This is a hands-on, high-impact role suited for a decisive, results-driven leader capable of turning operational challenges into a thriving, profitable enterprise.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage all operations, including sales, distribution, warehouse, and service functions across multiple locations
• Develop and implement strategies to drive sales growth, operational efficiency, and profitability
• Establish on-the-job floor leadership and lead by example to foster accountability and engagement
• Recruit, mentor, and develop high-performing leaders and staff
• Drive operational professionalization, including process improvements, performance metrics, and reporting systems
• Partner with the board to translate strategic goals into actionable operational plans
• Monitor KPIs, financial performance, and dashboards to ensure business objectives are met
• Foster a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and respect for the workforce

Qualifications:

• Proven track record of senior operational and executive leadership, ideally in industrial distribution, manufacturing, or related industries
• Experience leading multi-site operations and managing blue-collar teams
• Strong sales acumen with experience managing or scaling a sales force
• Ability to professionalize operations and implement systems for performance improvement
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills
• Hands-on, results-driven, and able to lead by example
• Willingness to travel regularly to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania locations

Compensation & Benefits:

• Base salary $200,000, with total cash compensation potential up to $250,000 based on performance
• Significant equity award
• Performance-based bonus structure
• Relocation assistance may be considered for an exceptional candidate

Next Steps:

The company is looking to fill this position promptly. Please apply here directly, or send your resume to Recruiting@themilvet.org. We'll reply immediately if there's potential.