Business Unit Head recruitment, for leaders who run a P&L of their own.
A Business Unit Head runs one business inside a larger company: its customers, its team and its P&L. We find leaders who think like a CEO of that unit while working within the group's strategy.
What the role owns
- The unit's P&L: revenue, margin, working capital and growth.
- Strategy for the unit's products, markets and customers.
- Sales, operations and delivery teams for the unit, directly or through shared functions.
- Reporting to group leadership and competing for capital within the group.
Where we hire it: across 18+ industries, including engineering and process equipment, pharma and CDMO, specialty chemicals, EPC and infrastructure, energy, automotive, water treatment, and consumer and financial services, in India and abroad.
Where these mandates come from: a unit head promoted to a group role. A sudden exit that leaves a P&L without an owner. An underperforming unit that needs turning around. A new unit, product line or region the group wants to build.
The right unit head is found, not sold. We search in discretion, assess and validate, and let the P&L record speak.
Hiring challenges
- Proven unit heads are usually being groomed for larger roles in their own groups, so they need a strong reason to move.
- Many units depend on shared functions they do not control, so candidates must be good at influence, not only command.
- New units and new product lines need builders, while mature units need optimisers, and the brief must say which.
- Pay often links to unit results, so offers need clear targets agreed in advance.
How we assess fit
- Track record: P&L growth and margin delivered in a comparable unit, verified by referencing.
- Cultural fit: how they work with group leadership and shared functions.
- Behavioural fit: ownership, commercial judgement, and how they build a team.
- Aspiration and personal goals: path to CEO or group roles, location and family needs.
Ownership and Business Unit Head fit
| Ownership type | What the Business Unit Head role looks like | What we test for |
|---|---|---|
| Indian family or promoter business | Runs a unit the promoter founded or wants to grow. | Promoter trust, independence, growth beyond the founder's network. |
| MNC subsidiary | Leads an Indian unit of a global business line. | Matrix influence, global product knowledge, compliance. |
| Large listed company | One of several units under group and investor scrutiny. | Scale, capital discipline, governance. |
| PE-backed company | A unit with a growth or carve out plan. | Speed, margin focus, readiness for a sale or listing. |
Our process: a brief with the CEO or group leadership, a mapped market of sitting unit and business heads, discreet outreach, structured assessment and deep referencing. Typically 2 to 3 weeks (passive job seekers) from brief to offer, depending on location and how narrow the brief is.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Business Unit Head the same as a Business Head?
Usually yes. Titles vary by company; we brief candidates on the real scope and P&L.
Do you hire for new units as well as established ones?
Yes, and we look for builders or optimisers to match.
Can you find candidates from adjacent industries?
Yes, when the brief allows it.
Is the search confidential?
Fully. The client is named only to the shortlist.
See every leadership role we search for on our CXO hiring page, or explore our industry practices.
Discuss a Business Unit Head mandate