Vice President & Head of Region MEA

Business Sweden is now looking for a VP & Head of Region Middle East & Africa who wants to develop the region, grow the business, and lead our value-driven teams! The Middle East and Africa will become increasingly important for Swedish trade in the coming years. As VP & Head of Region MEA, you will play a pivotal role in identifying and leveraging these opportunities amidst a dynamic market landscape.

Placement: The role is based at one of Business Sweden's offices in the region (Casablanca, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, Riyadh or Dubai).

From a business perspective, this is a dynamic region with significant potential for Swedish companies, driven by rapid urbanisation and technological development. Business Sweden supports companies throughout the region from our six offices in Kenya (Nairobi), Morocco (Casablanca), Nigeria (Lagos), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), South Africa (Johannesburg), and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai). We offer strategic advice, practical support, market insights, and access to an extensive business network—turning every challenge into an opportunity. Business Sweden also assists MEA-based companies looking to expand their business in Sweden.

In your role leading the region, you will have full responsibility for people, operations, and client deliveries across the region’s six offices. You will also be responsible for the operational collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassies and Team Sweden actors in the region. A key responsibility in this role will be to drive continued growth across the region—both within the state assignment and private assignment. As VP & Head of Region MEA, you will be expected to bring strong commercial acumen and a client-focused mindset, ensuring that Business Sweden delivers strategic value and seizes new opportunities in a dynamic and diverse market environment.

As VP & Head of Region MEA you will lead the region of approximately 35 people. The role is based at one of our offices in the region (Casablanca, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, Riyadh or Dubai), and you will be expected to work closely with our teams and clients both within the region and globally, as required. As VP and Head of MEA, you will also be part of Business Sweden’s executive management team.

Key responsibilities

Leading the region

• Guide leaders by setting clear expectations and act as coach to support them in their deliveries.
• Develop and drive people agenda to enable the attraction and growth of talent.
• Represent Sweden and/or Business Sweden in various public events.
• Full responsibility for revenue growth, Profit & Loss and delivery on the group and regional KPIs.

Client services

• Ongoing identification of business opportunities and secure the regional agenda to sell and market Business Sweden's services to existing and potential clients.
• Contribute to client deliveries and secure quality assurance processes.
• Maintain continuous dialogue with existing and potential clients and stakeholders.
• Represent the interest of Swedish companies and Business Sweden in the region through local networks and value adding stakeholder management.
• Develop Business Sweden’s perspective on closer collaboration between foreign aid and trade promotion and implement the political direction into concrete action in the region.

Member of the Management team

• Contribute to and run internal strategic development projects.
• Identify, upscale and share best practices.
• Contribute to Business Sweden's change management agenda.
• Live the Business Sweden values and be a role model in all aspects towards clients, staff, and all other stakeholders.

Background and experience

• Relevant academic degree, likely in Economics, Business Administration, Political Science, and/or Engineering.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant professional experience, preferably including work in international organizations and projects related to foreign aid.
• Extensive leadership experience, including coaching leaders, with a focus on empathy and trust.
• Proven ability to engage teams around a vision and execute strategy from a leadership perspective.
• Experience in selling and delivering consulting, advisory, or other professional services, with strong business acumen and a focus on client value.
• High proficiency in written and spoken English; additional relevant languages are a plus.
• Good understanding of Swedish government operations, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is an advantage.
• Experience from living and working in the region is meritorious.
• Previous experience with Business Sweden or Team Sweden is valued.

Personal qualities

You are committed, honest, and accountable in your work. You provide support and take ownership to ensure high-quality, timely delivery. You collaborate effectively with a positive, can-do attitude and strive for strong results. You foster team spirit and transparent communication, adapt easily to new ways of working, and are a solution-oriented problem solver. You set and deliver on clear goals, communicate them effectively, and build trust and respect through your competence and integrity. You promote global teamwork and contribute to an inclusive work environment where diverse perspectives are valued.

If this sounds like your kind of challenge, apply today by submitting your CV and cover letter!

In this recruitment process Business Sweden is collaborating with Novare Executive Search. For more information about the position or the process, please contact Viktor Karlsson, viktor.karlsson@novare.se. Please note that we do not accept applications through e-mail.