Export Director Recruitment

UK Export Director Recruitment

Specialised Senior Search for Permanent, Interim, Fractional and Part-Time Export Director Appointments at UK Manufacturers, UK Food and Drink Exporters, UK Industrial Equipment Exporters, UK Technology and SaaS Firms with International Expansion, UK Consumer Goods Exporters, UK SMEs Scaling International Export Operations and UK Professional Services Firms with International Client Base Operations Across UK Post-Brexit Trade Framework

UK Export Director recruitment is the specialised senior commercial search engagement framework for UK firms appointing senior commercial leaders with senior accountability for the firm’s international export operations. UK Export Director recruitment scope focuses specifically on the senior commercial leader at the intersection of UK firm commercial leadership and UK international export operations — distinct from broader UK Sales Director recruitment scope (which extends across UK firm broader sales operations including UK domestic sales operations and UK international sales operations combined), distinct from broader UK Commercial Director recruitment scope (which extends across UK firm broader commercial operations including pricing, contracts, procurement intersection, and senior commercial leadership across multiple functional dimensions), distinct from broader UK Business Development Director recruitment scope (which extends across UK firm broader business development operations including new market development and partnership development), and distinct from UK International CFO recruitment scope (which operates at senior finance function leadership at UK international firms rather than commercial export leadership). UK Export Director appointments operate across multiple UK engagement model dimensions including UK permanent Export Director engagement (the principal UK Export Director engagement model at UK firms operating with material international export operations at firm scale), UK interim Export Director engagement (time-bound 3-9 month gap-fill arrangements), UK fractional Export Director engagement (flexible day-rate engagement at firms not warranting full-time permanent UK Export Director engagement), and UK part-time Export Director engagement (structured days-per-week recurring engagement at smaller UK exporters).

This UK Export Director recruitment service page covers the senior UK Export Director recruitment context, the principal UK firm sector scenarios for senior UK Export Director appointments, the UK Export Director engagement model framework, the senior commercial dimensions specific to UK Export Director recruitment, the senior search methodology calibrated to UK Export Director recruitment, and adjacent senior UK commercial recruitment engagement across the broader Exec Capital and FD Capital cross-portfolio architecture. For UK Export Director Job Description reference covering the comprehensive UK post-Brexit trade regulatory framework (HMRC Customs Declaration Service, UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework, UK Strategic Export Controls Export Control Joint Unit, OFSI Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, HMRC Authorised Economic Operator framework, Incoterms 2020, Harmonised System Codes, UK Export Finance UKEF, UKCA marking, UK REACH, CITES) and the UK Export Director professional qualification framework (Institute of Export and International Trade IOE&IT primary credential, CIM Chartered Institute of Marketing International Marketing credentials, CIPS Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply intersection credentials, MBA preference) see Export Director Job Description. Every senior UK Export Director search is run by our specialist team, with Adrian Lawrence FCA overseeing each mandate.

Why Export Director Hiring Is Different

UK Export Director recruitment matters as a distinct senior commercial recruitment context because the senior career trajectories, sector-specific export career background, UK post-Brexit trade framework familiarity, UK customs declaration framework familiarity, UK Strategic Export Controls framework familiarity at relevant UK firms, international language capability dimensions where applicable, and senior commercial dimensions of UK Export Director candidates differ materially from broader senior commercial leadership recruitment. UK Export Director appointments operate at the intersection of senior commercial leadership and specialist UK international trade framework expertise — UK Export Director candidates typically combine senior commercial career background with material UK international trade framework career experience including UK customs declaration framework career experience, UK Incoterms framework career experience, UK Export Finance UKEF framework career experience where applicable, and adjacent senior UK international trade framework career experience.

UK post-Brexit trade framework matters materially at senior UK Export Director recruitment. UK firms exporting to EU markets post-Brexit operate within materially different UK-EU trade framework dimensions than pre-Brexit dimensions including UK rules of origin framework, UK-EU customs declaration framework intersection, UK-EU regulatory framework intersection, and the wider UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement framework dimensions. UK firms operating with Northern Ireland trade dimensions operate within Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework arrangements. UK firms exporting to ROW markets operate within UK Free Trade Agreement framework dimensions where applicable. Senior UK Export Director candidates typically require demonstrable UK post-Brexit trade framework career experience, demonstrable understanding of HMRC Customs Declaration Service framework (which fully replaced the legacy CHIEF system for export declarations on 4 June 2024, import declarations having moved across in 2022), and demonstrable familiarity with UK Strategic Export Controls framework where applicable to UK firms operating with strategic, dual-use, or military export goods dimensions.

Specifying the Export Director mandate accurately at the brief stage matters because the senior career trajectories, sector-specific export career background, target export market dimensions (UK-EU markets, UK-ROW markets, specific geographic regional markets), regulatory framework requirements, qualification requirements, and senior commercial dimensions of UK Export Director candidates differ materially across UK firm scenarios. At Exec Capital our senior UK Export Director search engagement begins with structured brief development that articulates the firm scenario, sector context, target export market dimensions, post-Brexit trade framework requirements, qualification requirements, engagement model framework, and the senior commercial dimensions specific to the firm.

The trade map an Export Director works with has also changed quickly. The UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) entered into force on 15 December 2024, giving UK exporters preferential access across a bloc that includes Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Chile, Peru, Australia and New Zealand, and new free trade arrangements with Malaysia and Brunei for the first time. The UK–India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement entered into force on 15 July 2026, with the government stating that 90% of UK goods entering India now benefit from removed or reduced tariffs. Each agreement has its own rules of origin, its own tariff schedules and its own paperwork, and the gain only reaches the bottom line if somebody senior makes sure the business actually claims the preference.

Carbon is now a trade cost too. The EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism moved into its definitive phase in January 2026, so EU customers buying steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser or hydrogen from UK suppliers are asking for verified embedded-emissions data. The UK’s own carbon border adjustment mechanism comes into effect on 1 January 2027, covering aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen and iron and steel, with record-keeping starting from that date and registration opening from 1 January 2028. For an industrial exporter that buys these materials in and sells finished goods abroad, the Export Director increasingly sits between procurement, finance and the customer on carbon data, and we now test for that in the brief.

Speak to our team about your Export Director search →

How an Export Director Search Works

Every Export Director search follows the same six stages. The order matters more than the speed: most failed export appointments trace back to a vague brief, not a weak candidate market. We agree the timetable with you at briefing, around your board calendar, trade show season and any market launch dates.

UK Firm Sector Scenarios for UK Export Director Recruitment

UK Export Director recruitment operates across the following principal UK firm sector scenarios with senior commercial dynamics, sector-specific export framework dimensions, and senior commercial structures specific to each UK firm sector context.

UK manufacturers exporting to EU and ROW markets — UK manufacturers (UK industrial manufacturers, UK precision engineering firms, UK aerospace and defence manufacturers operating with civilian export dimensions, UK automotive component manufacturers, UK electronics manufacturers, UK chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, UK construction equipment manufacturers) operating with material international export operations frequently appoint Export Directors with UK manufacturing-specific senior commercial dimensions. UK manufacturing Export Director recruitment scope typically extends across senior international distributor network management framework leadership, senior international project tender framework leadership at UK industrial manufacturing exporters, senior international after-sales service and parts framework leadership intersection, senior UK customs declaration framework leadership, senior UK Strategic Export Controls framework intersection where applicable to UK aerospace and defence manufacturers operating with strategic export goods dimensions, and the wider senior commercial dimensions specific to UK manufacturing firm export operations.

UK food and drink exporters — UK food and drink exporters (UK premium food brands, UK Scotch whisky exporters, UK gin and spirits exporters, UK premium beer and ale exporters, UK confectionery exporters, UK speciality food exporters, UK organic food exporters, UK seafood exporters) operating with material international export operations frequently appoint Export Directors with UK food and drink-specific senior commercial dimensions. UK food and drink Export Director recruitment scope typically extends across senior international retailer relationship framework leadership at major international retail chains, senior international distributor framework leadership across the firm’s international markets, senior international food safety framework intersection (UK Food Standards Agency framework intersection with destination market food safety regulatory frameworks), senior international labelling and consumer information framework leadership, senior international duty and tax framework leadership at alcohol exporters where applicable, senior export documentation framework leadership including phytosanitary certificate framework where applicable, and the wider senior commercial dimensions specific to UK food and drink firm export operations.

UK industrial equipment exporters — UK industrial equipment exporters (UK industrial machinery manufacturers, UK construction equipment manufacturers, UK agricultural equipment manufacturers, UK power generation equipment manufacturers, UK water treatment equipment manufacturers, UK industrial process equipment manufacturers) operating with material international export operations frequently appoint Export Directors with UK industrial equipment-specific senior commercial dimensions. UK industrial equipment Export Director recruitment scope typically extends across senior international project tender framework leadership at major international industrial projects, senior international project finance framework intersection where applicable, senior international export credit insurance framework intersection (UK Export Finance UKEF framework engagement where applicable), senior international agent and distributor framework leadership, senior international after-sales service and spare parts framework leadership, and the wider senior commercial dimensions specific to UK industrial equipment firm export operations.

UK technology and SaaS firms with international expansion — UK technology and SaaS firms (UK enterprise SaaS firms, UK fintech firms with international expansion, UK regtech firms with international expansion, UK B2B SaaS firms scaling internationally, UK consumer technology firms with international expansion) operating with material international expansion operations frequently appoint Export Directors with UK technology firm international expansion-specific senior commercial dimensions. UK technology and SaaS Export Director recruitment scope typically extends across senior international SaaS subscription framework leadership including international pricing framework, senior international data residency framework intersection with international data protection regulatory frameworks (EU GDPR framework intersection with UK GDPR, US state privacy law framework intersection, APAC data protection framework intersection), senior international tax framework intersection (international VAT/GST framework engagement at SaaS exports, withholding tax framework, transfer pricing framework intersection), senior international partnership and channel framework leadership, senior international customer success framework leadership intersection at major international customer accounts, and the wider senior commercial dimensions specific to UK technology firm international expansion operations.

UK consumer goods exporters — UK consumer goods exporters (UK premium consumer brands, UK fashion and apparel exporters, UK home and garden consumer goods exporters, UK personal care and cosmetics exporters, UK consumer electronics exporters) operating with material international export operations frequently appoint Export Directors with UK consumer goods-specific senior commercial dimensions. UK consumer goods Export Director recruitment scope typically extends across senior international retailer relationship framework leadership, senior international e-commerce framework intersection at international consumer-facing channels, senior international brand framework leadership intersection with senior brand marketing leadership, senior international product framework leadership including international product adaptation dimensions where applicable, senior international duty and tax framework leadership, and the wider senior commercial dimensions specific to UK consumer goods firm export operations.

UK SMEs scaling international export operations — UK SMEs operating at scale-up phase with senior international export operations frequently appoint Export Directors with UK SME export scale-up-specific senior commercial dimensions. UK SME Export Director recruitment scope typically extends across senior international market entry strategy framework leadership at firm scale, senior international distributor framework leadership at scale-appropriate international markets, senior export operations framework leadership at SME scale, senior export funding framework intersection (UK Export Finance UKEF framework engagement where applicable, UK Department for Business and Trade DBT export support framework engagement where applicable), and the wider senior commercial dimensions specific to UK SME export scale-up operations.

UK professional services firms with international client base operations — UK professional services firms (UK consulting firms with international client base, UK technology services firms with international client base, UK financial services advisory firms with international client base) operating with material international client base operations frequently appoint Export Directors or senior international client framework leaders with UK professional services-specific senior commercial dimensions including senior international client relationship framework leadership, senior international service delivery framework leadership intersection, senior international tax framework intersection at services exports, and the wider senior commercial dimensions specific to UK professional services firm international operations.

Defence, dual-use and controlled-technology exporters — businesses whose products appear on the UK Strategic Export Control Lists, or which could be caught by end-use controls, need an Export Director who treats licensing as part of the sales plan rather than an afterthought. In these searches we look for people who have worked alongside an internal export control manager, understand the difference between standard and open licences, and know how sanctions screening and end-user undertakings affect the sales cycle in sensitive markets. Many of these businesses also hire a separate Head of Trade Compliance; we cover the split between the two roles in the comparison table below.

Private equity-backed buy-and-build platforms — where an investor has bought several UK businesses with overlapping overseas distributors, the Export Director brief is often about consolidation: one distributor per territory, one price list, one set of Incoterms and one view of export margin across the group. These appointments sit close to the value creation plan, and we run them alongside our private equity executive search practice so the candidate profile reflects what the investor needs by exit, not just what the business needs this year.

Export Director vs International Sales Director vs Commercial Director vs Head of Trade Compliance

Job titles in international trade are used loosely, and the wrong title attracts the wrong shortlist. An advert for an “International Sales Director” brings in revenue hunters who may never have dealt with a customs broker; an advert for a “Head of International Trade” often brings in customs and compliance specialists rather than sellers. The table sets out how the four roles usually differ in UK businesses. Your organisation may combine two of them in one person, and part of our brief is deciding whether that is realistic.

Two patterns come up most often. First, a growing manufacturer promotes its best international salesperson to Export Director and finds that nobody now owns customs, documentation and partner contracts; the fix is either a broader Export Director or a dedicated trade compliance lead under the operations team. Second, a larger group creates a “Head of International Trade” title that is really a compliance role, then wonders why overseas sales do not grow. Getting the title, reporting line and target right at the brief stage avoids both.

A note on terminology: trade compliance (customs, origin, export controls and trade sanctions) is different from regulatory compliance at an FCA-authorised firm. If the business is a regulated financial services firm looking for a compliance officer or MLRO, that is a separate route through our fractional compliance officer service.

UK Export Director Engagement Model Framework

UK Export Director recruitment operates across multiple engagement model dimensions with senior commercial dynamics specific to each engagement model.

UK Permanent Export Director engagement — full-time ongoing employment — UK Permanent Export Director engagement operates as full-time ongoing employment at the firm with senior commercial dynamics including ongoing senior international export function leadership, ongoing senior international team leadership, ongoing senior commercial international relationship management, and the wider senior commercial dimensions specific to permanent UK Export Director engagement. UK Permanent Export Director engagement is the principal UK Export Director engagement model at UK firms operating with material international export operations at firm scale where ongoing full-time senior international export function leadership is warranted by the firm’s commercial scale and international export commercial dimensions.

UK Interim Export Director engagement — time-bound 3-9 month gap-fill — UK Interim Export Director engagement operates as time-bound 3-9 month gap-fill arrangements typically covering UK Export Director departures, UK Export Director maternity cover, UK Export Director transition periods, UK firm international export crisis management periods, UK firm post-Brexit transition framework requirements, and selected UK firm time-bound senior international export requirements. UK Interim Export Director engagements operate at near full-time during the engagement period with senior commercial dynamics specific to time-bound interim arrangements.

UK Fractional and Part-Time Export Director engagement — UK Fractional Export Director engagement operates as flexible day-rate engagement; UK Part-Time Export Director engagement operates as structured ongoing engagement at defined days per week (typically 1-3 days per week) on a recurring scheduled basis. UK Fractional and UK Part-Time Export Director engagements operate at UK SMEs and selected UK firms operating with senior international export function leadership requirements at scale where full-time permanent UK Export Director engagement is not warranted by the firm’s commercial scale. UK Fractional and Part-Time Export Director day rates depend on UK firm scale, sector, travel commitment and the senior commercial dimensions specific to the engagement; the rate we quote includes our fee and is agreed with you at briefing.

When to hire a permanent, interim, fractional or part-time Export Director

The right format depends on the size of the export book, how much travel the role needs and how certain the plan is. Use the comparison below as a starting point; we will give you a straight view at briefing if we think a different format would serve you better.

Other ways to hire an export or international sales leader. If the role is mainly about domestic and international sales together, our Sales Director recruitment page is the better fit. For a short-term commercial turnaround see interim Commercial Director; for a growth-stage business that wants senior international sales leadership a few days a month, see fractional Sales Director. Where the challenge is really freight, warehousing and supplier lead times rather than customers, our Supply Chain Director recruitment team is the right starting point.

UK Export Director Compensation Calibration

UK Export Director compensation varies materially with UK firm scale, sector, international export operation scale, and senior accountability scope. We do not publish salary bands on this page because export roles vary too widely for a single range to be useful; we give you a market view for your specific brief, and our Sales Director salary guide sets out the wider senior sales pay picture.

UK SME Export Director — base salary is set by the size of the export book, the number of markets and whether the role manages a team; bonus is usually linked to export revenue and margin, with selected long-term incentive arrangements where applicable at PE-backed UK SME firms. Total compensation combines cash with, at some owner-managed businesses, a profit share tied to overseas growth.

UK mid-market firm Export Director — a higher base reflecting larger teams, more subsidiaries and more complex channel structures, with a larger bonus opportunity aligned with international export performance dimensions plus long-term incentive arrangements. Total compensation at UK mid-market firms typically blends cash and equity-linked awards.

UK manufacturing and industrial Export Director — packages at UK manufacturing and industrial Export Directors operating at material UK manufacturing commercial scale reflect project tender responsibility and the size of individual contracts, with bonus aligned with international export and major international project delivery performance dimensions. Car or car allowance and travel arrangements are a bigger part of the package here than in most sectors.

UK PE-backed scaling firm Export Director — base and bonus aligned with the investor’s value creation plan, plus material sweet equity participation in the platform structure that potentially adds material economic value at successful exits across multi-year hold periods.

UK Export Director Required Experience and Qualifications — Summary

UK Export Director appointments typically require senior international export career experience and qualification credentials with comprehensive coverage in the sister Job Description page.

Senior international export career background — typically 12-18+ years of senior international export career experience including prior UK Export Director or senior Head of Exports career background at peer UK firms, prior senior UK international sales career background at UK firms operating with material international export dimensions, prior senior UK regional commercial career background at UK firms with major international regional operations, or senior UK commercial career background at UK firms operating with material international export operations.

Sector-specific export career background — UK Export Director appointments typically require sector-specific senior international export career background reflecting the firm’s commercial sector and international export commercial dimensions.

UK qualification framework — UK Export Director appointments typically include preferences for the UK qualification framework comprehensively covered in the sister Export Director Job Description reference page including IOE&IT (Institute of Export and International Trade) primary credential, CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) International Marketing credentials, CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply) intersection credentials, MBA preference at senior tier, and adjacent sector-specific qualifications. The Institute now holds a Royal Charter and operates as the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade; its Diploma in International Trade is the qualification we see most often on strong export CVs, though many excellent Export Directors learned the discipline on the job.

UK post-Brexit trade framework career background — UK Export Director appointments typically require demonstrable UK post-Brexit trade framework career experience including UK Customs Declaration Service framework career experience, UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement framework career experience, UK Strategic Export Controls framework career experience where applicable, UK Export Finance UKEF framework career experience where applicable, and adjacent UK post-Brexit trade framework career experience. For comprehensive UK post-Brexit trade framework details see the sister Export Director Job Description reference page.

Export finance literacy — strong candidates can explain when to sell on open account, when to insist on a letter of credit and when to insure the receivable. UK Export Finance helps exporters win contracts by offering overseas buyers more favourable finance, fund new export orders through working capital support, and insure against buyers who do not pay; an Export Director who has used these tools with the finance team can open larger contracts in riskier markets without stretching the balance sheet.

What an Export Director Typically Delivers in the First 90 Days

A good Export Director spends the first month listening and the next two changing things. The detail depends on the brief, but the first 90 days usually cover:

• An honest export P&L. Revenue, gross margin and cost-to-serve by market and by channel partner, including freight, duty, commission and credit insurance. Many businesses discover that one or two territories absorb most of the effort for little margin.
• A distributor and agent review. Who sells what, where, on what terms, with what exclusivity and what performance clauses. Underperforming or conflicted partners are flagged with a plan for each.
• A trade compliance health check. Commodity codes, origin claims under each trade agreement used, Incoterms on live contracts, export licence coverage and sanctions screening. Where the business claims preferential origin, the Export Director makes sure it can prove it.
• A market priority list. Which markets to grow, hold or exit over the next two to three years, taking in recent agreements such as CPTPP and the UK–India deal, and any carbon reporting exposure for EU customers.
• Pricing and payment terms. A single export price structure, clear discount authority and credit terms agreed with the finance team.
• A team and resourcing plan. Whether the business needs regional managers, inside sales support, a trade compliance lead or local subsidiaries, and in what order.
• A first set of KPIs for the board. Export revenue and margin by market, pipeline, partner performance, debtor days on export sales and compliance incidents.

Senior UK Export Director Search — Methodology

UK senior Export Director search engagement at Exec Capital follows a structured retained methodology calibrated to the specific dynamics of UK Export Director recruitment.

Structured brief development — every senior UK Export Director mandate at Exec Capital begins with structured brief development that articulates the firm scenario, the sector context, the target export market dimensions (UK-EU markets, UK-ROW markets, specific geographic regional markets), the post-Brexit trade framework requirements, the qualification requirements, the regulatory framework requirements (including UK Strategic Export Controls framework requirements where applicable), the engagement model framework (permanent / interim / fractional / part-time), the compensation framework, and the senior commercial dimensions specific to the firm.

UK Export Director candidate pool research — UK senior Export Director candidate pool research operates with concentrated research extending across the relevant UK Export Director candidate pool. UK Export Director candidate pool extends across senior UK Export Directors at peer UK firms in the relevant sector, senior UK international sales leaders with senior progression dimensions to Export Director tier, senior UK regional commercial leaders at UK firms with major international regional operations, senior UK commercial leaders with material international export career background, and adjacent senior UK international commercial candidate pool dimensions.

UK Export Director candidate assessment — UK Export Director candidate assessment extends across the candidate’s senior international export career background, sector-specific export career background, UK post-Brexit trade framework familiarity assessment, UK Strategic Export Controls framework familiarity assessment where applicable, UK qualification credentials verification (IOE&IT, CIM, CIPS, MBA preference where applicable), international language capability assessment where applicable to the firm’s principal export market geographies, and the wider senior UK Export Director candidate assessment dimensions.

Evidence, not anecdotes — export candidates are good storytellers; it is part of the job. We ask for specifics: which markets they opened and what those markets were worth after three years, which distributors they appointed and which they removed and why, what share of export revenue carried a preferential tariff claim, and how they handled a shipment held at a border or a licence refusal. We then test those claims at referencing with former MDs, finance directors and, where appropriate, former channel partners.

Practical interview exercises — for permanent searches we often suggest a short case at final stage: a real (anonymised) distributor agreement to critique, or a market-entry choice between two territories with outline data. It shows how a candidate thinks about margin, risk and compliance together, which a conventional interview rarely does.

Travel and language reality check — we confirm early how much travel the role needs and whether the candidate’s family situation supports it, and we test language claims where the brief depends on them. Many export hires fail in year one because the travel load was not discussed honestly at interview.

Engagement and Fees

We agree the fee structure with you at briefing, once we understand the role, the format and the size of the search. In outline:

• Permanent Export Director searches are usually run on a retained basis, which commits a dedicated search team to your role, gives you market mapping and regular reporting, and suits roles where the best candidates are not actively looking. Contingent terms can work for some less senior international sales roles. Our guide to retained vs contingent executive search explains the differences.
• Interim and fractional Export Directors are engaged on a day-rate basis. The day rate we quote includes our fee, so there is one figure to budget against, and the commitment can be flexed as the plan changes.
• What is included: the brief and role specification, market research and mapping, screening interviews, written candidate assessments, interview design support, referencing, offer and package negotiation, and post-placement check-ins.

We will not quote a fee or day rate on this page because both depend on the brief. Call 0203 834 9616 or tell us about your hire and we will come back with terms.

Who We Place Export Directors With

Our Export Director and international sales searches come from a wide range of UK businesses. Typical clients include:

• Owner-managed manufacturers turning occasional export orders into a planned overseas business, often hiring their first director-level export leader.
• Food, drink and FMCG brands selling through overseas retailers, importers and duty-free channels.
• Industrial equipment, engineering and process businesses that win overseas work through tenders and long-term service contracts, alongside our manufacturing executive recruitment practice.
• Private equity-backed platforms consolidating distributors and pricing across several acquired businesses.
• Technology, software and SaaS businesses moving from UK-only sales to Europe, North America or Asia-Pacific.
• UK subsidiaries of overseas groups that need a UK-based leader responsible for exports from Britain to the rest of the world.

We keep client details confidential and do not publish client names or case studies on this page. If you would like to speak to a client reference before engaging us, ask at briefing.

Cross-Portfolio Architecture and Adjacent Senior UK Commercial Recruitment Engagement

UK senior Export Director recruitment engagement extends across Exec Capital and the broader Exec Capital cross-portfolio architecture with FD Capital cross-portfolio engagement specific to senior international finance leadership.

FD Capital — UK senior International CFO and senior international finance authority — sister site FD Capital operates as the dedicated UK senior commercial CFO and senior SMF holder authority. UK senior International CFO appointments at UK FCA-authorised firms with international scope at material seniority frequently operate within FD Capital cross-portfolio senior commercial authority given the senior commercial dimensions specific to UK senior international finance appointments.

UK Sales Director — broader UK sales scope — for UK Sales Director recruitment service engagement covering broader UK sales scope including UK domestic sales operations see Sales Director Recruitment; for UK Sales Director Job Description reference see Sales Director Job Description.

UK Commercial Director — broader UK commercial scope — for UK Commercial Director recruitment service engagement covering broader UK commercial scope see Commercial Director Recruitment; for UK Commercial Director Job Description reference see Commercial Director Job Description.

UK Business Development Director — broader UK BD scope — for UK Business Development Director Job Description reference see Business Development Director Job Description.

UK International CFO — international finance leadership — for UK International CFO recruitment service engagement at UK senior international finance leadership see International CFO Recruitment.

UK Export Director Job Description — sister reference page — for UK Export Director Job Description reference covering comprehensive UK post-Brexit trade regulatory framework and UK qualification framework details see Export Director Job Description.

Revenue, procurement and overseas leadership — where the export role sits inside a wider revenue function, a Chief Revenue Officer may be the right senior hire with an Export Director beneath. Where the cost side of international trade is the bigger issue, see Procurement Director recruitment. For overseas-based leaders and in-country managing directors, see our international executive recruitment page.

Signs Your Business Needs an Export Director

Most businesses do not decide to hire an Export Director in a planning meeting; they notice that overseas sales have outgrown the way they are managed. The common signs:

• Export sales have grown to a meaningful share of revenue, but nobody at director level owns them; the MD or founder is still doing the overseas travel.
• Distributors set their own prices, hold exclusivity they have not earned, or sell into territories they were never appointed for.
• Shipments are delayed or held because of documentation, origin or licence problems, and each one is treated as a one-off.
• The business is not claiming tariff preferences it is entitled to under agreements such as the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, CPTPP or the UK–India deal, or is claiming them without evidence to back them up.
• Customers in the EU are asking for carbon data the business cannot easily provide.
• An investor’s value creation plan depends on international growth, but there is no named leader accountable for delivering it.
• Overseas debtors are rising and there is no clear policy on payment terms, letters of credit or credit insurance.

If three or more apply, an Export Director (or, for a smaller business, a fractional one) will usually pay for themselves through margin recovered and risk removed. If the main problem is customs and documentation rather than sales, you may need a trade compliance specialist first; we will tell you which at briefing.

For Export and International Sales Candidates

If you are an Export Director, International Sales Director or Head of International Trade considering your next move, please register with us and browse our current opportunities. We hold candidate details in confidence and only put you forward for a role with your agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an Export Director do?

An Export Director is responsible for a company’s overseas revenue. That includes choosing markets, appointing and managing distributors, agents or overseas subsidiaries, setting export pricing and payment terms, and making sure goods leave the UK and enter destination markets lawfully and on time. In smaller businesses the role is hands-on and travel-heavy; in larger ones it leads regional managers and works closely with a trade compliance specialist.

How is Export Director recruitment different from international sales director recruitment?

An International Sales Director is usually measured on winning and growing customers. An Export Director owns the whole route to market, including customs, origin, export controls, Incoterms, export finance and partner contracts. We recruit both; the brief decides which title, scope and reporting line will attract the right shortlist.

What does a Head of International Trade do?

The title is used in two ways. In some businesses it means a senior commercial leader, similar to an Export Director. In others it means the head of trade compliance: customs classification, origin, Authorised Economic Operator status, export licences and sanctions screening. We clarify which you mean at briefing, because the candidate markets are very different.

Should we use distributors or hire an Export Director?

The two are not alternatives. Distributors and agents are a route to market; an Export Director decides which routes to use, holds partners to account and replaces them when they underperform. Businesses relying on distributors without senior oversight often find margin and market coverage drifting.

Can we hire a fractional or part-time Export Director?

Yes. A fractional or part-time Export Director suits SMEs building their first export function or testing new markets. They typically set strategy, appoint partners and fix pricing and compliance processes, supported by an internal coordinator who handles orders and documents day to day. Fractional and interim day rates include our fee.

What qualifications should an Export Director have?

There is no mandatory qualification. The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade’s Diploma in International Trade is well regarded, and CIM, CIPS or an MBA can be useful. We weight a proven record of opening markets, managing partners and handling customs and controls more heavily than certificates.

How does the UK CBAM affect Export Director hiring?

The UK carbon border adjustment mechanism comes into effect on 1 January 2027 and applies to imports of aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen and iron and steel. It mainly affects UK businesses importing those goods, while the EU’s own CBAM affects UK exporters selling them into the EU. For industrial exporters it means the Export Director needs to work with procurement and finance on carbon data, and we test for that where relevant.

How do you assess export controls and sanctions knowledge?

Through specific questions at screening and referencing: which licences the candidate has worked under, how screening was built into order processing, and how they handled a refused or delayed licence. For controlled-goods exporters we involve your export control manager in the interview process.

How long does an Export Director search take?

It depends on the seniority, sector and how many suitable people exist. We agree the timetable with you at briefing and report progress throughout. Notice periods for senior export leaders are often several months, so interim cover is worth considering if the role is already vacant.

How are your fees structured?

Permanent searches are usually retained, with terms agreed at briefing. Interim and fractional appointments are charged on a day-rate basis that includes our fee. We do not publish standard rates because each brief differs.