Job description

CEO - Korea Cold Chain & Logistics

Seoul, South Korea

Atlas NextWave is supporting a growing logistics business in Korea in the appointment of a senior CEO to lead its next stage of commercial and operational growth.

The business is building a significant presence in the Korean cold-chain market, with a portfolio of temperature-controlled logistics facilities and further expansion planned.

This is a hands-on leadership role for an executive who understands how to build occupancy, win customers and grow a logistics business.

While the position carries full responsibility for the performance and operation of the business, the immediate focus will be on the commercial side: bringing new customers into existing facilities and securing future demand for additional capacity.

The successful candidate will be expected to bring a strong network of relationships across the Korean logistics and supply-chain market and be comfortable taking a direct role in business development and major customer negotiations.

The Role

You will take overall leadership of the Korean business, with responsibility for its commercial performance, operations, people and continued expansion.

A major part of the role will be understanding where demand exists in the market and converting that demand into long-term occupancy across the platform.

You will:

• Develop and execute the commercial strategy for the Korean business, with a particular focus on increasing utilisation of existing cold-storage capacity.

• Build relationships at senior level with major warehouse users, including 3PLs, food and beverage companies, distributors, retailers, e-commerce businesses and other organisations with temperature-controlled logistics requirements.

• Personally lead significant customer opportunities, from identifying potential occupiers through to commercial negotiation and contract award.

• Develop a forward pipeline of customers for facilities coming online in the future, including securing commitments before new capacity is acquired or developed.

• Establish the commercial proposition, pricing strategy and customer offering for the business.

• Build and develop a high-performing sales and commercial team as the platform grows.

• Take overall responsibility for financial performance, including revenue, profitability, cash flow and cost management.

• Ensure facilities operate to the required standards across safety, food quality, temperature control and relevant Korean regulatory requirements.

• Lead the management team and develop the organisational structure required to support a growing multi-site operation.

• Work with the wider leadership team on the identification and assessment of new facilities and expansion opportunities.

• Support the onboarding and integration of new sites and businesses as the platform develops.

• Maintain strong relationships with customers, landlords, developers, industry partners and relevant public-sector stakeholders.

• Represent the business at senior level within the Korean logistics and industrial community.

What We're Looking For

This role requires more than a traditional operations executive.

We're looking for someone who combines commercial instinct with genuine operational credibility. Someone who can identify a customer opportunity, win the business and then make sure the operation delivers.

You are likely to bring:

• Significant senior-level experience within Korean logistics, warehousing, cold chain or a closely related sector.

• A track record of running a sizeable business, business unit or P&L rather than operating solely within a functional or support role.

• Strong knowledge of the Korean warehouse and cold-storage market.

• An established network of decision-makers across logistics, food, retail, distribution, e-commerce or other sectors that use temperature-controlled facilities.

• Evidence of personally winning major customers or contracts, rather than simply managing a sales organisation.

• A strong understanding of what drives warehouse occupancy, pricing, margins and customer retention.

• Experience leading multi-site operations and managing senior teams.

• The commercial confidence to be directly involved in customer meetings and negotiations.

• Experience of business growth, acquisitions, new-site openings or integration would be highly valuable.

• Strong financial understanding and the ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders and a Board.

• Native or fluent Korean and strong professional English.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of a growing Korean logistics business rather than simply managing one part of an established organisation.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape the commercial strategy, build the customer base, develop the team and influence the future footprint of the business.

If you are a commercially minded logistics leader with the relationships and track record to fill cold-storage capacity and build a larger platform, we would like to hear from you.