Who We Are Suntory Beverage & Food strives to be the most locally beloved beverage company in every market we serve. Guided by our founding principles of 'Growing for Good,' 'Yatte Minahare' (the spirit of bold ambition), and 'Giving Back to Society', we pursue sustainable growth, bold innovation, and meaningful social impact. Across the Asia Pacific region, we proudly offer trusted brands including Ribena , Lucozade Sport , BRAND'S Essence of Chicken, Tea+, BOSS Coffee, V Energy - delivering quality products that honor our commitment to harmony with people and nature. At Suntory Malaysia , we are proud to be part of the global Suntory Group , a Japanese multinational renowned for its unwavering commitment to health , wellness , and enriching lives . With a legacy deeply rooted in innovation and natural science , we deliver high-quality health enrichment and functional beverages tailored to the needs of Malaysian consumers. Guided by our mission to 'Inspire the Brilliance of Life' , we blend cutting-edge research with a profound respect for nature to support holistic well-being - from the inside out. We are the proud brand owner of several iconic products with strong cultural heritage and consumer trust: Ribena - the beloved blackcurrant drink rich in Vitamin C. BRAND'S - a trusted name in health supplements, including the renowned BRAND'S Essence of Chicken. C.C. Lemon - a refreshing lemon-flavored drink packed with Vitamin C, offering a zesty boost for your daily wellness. About Your Role As Head of General Trade (GT) , you will lead the strategy, performance, and transformation of the General Trade channel across Malaysia . Reporting to the Sales Director, you will be accountable for driving sustainable sales growth, optimizing routetomarket effectiveness, and maximizing trade investment returns through strong distributor and team leadership. This role plays a critical part in translating category and brand strategies into winning GT execution, ensuring strong availability, visibility, and commercial excellence at the outlet level while building a highperformance sales organization. Role Type: People Manager Reporting Line Manager: Sales Director, Malaysia Direct Subordinate: Regional Sales Manager x 4 + DMS & Sales Reporting Assistant Manager x 1 GT team: 14 (Area Sales Manager + Key Account Manager) Compensation And Benefits 17 days Annual Leave 16% Employer EPF contribution Medical and insurance coverage (covered direct family members) Optical and dental coverage What You'll Do Commercial & Growth Leadership Own and deliver GT sales targets, profit objectives, and AOP plans across Preferred Distributors, Local Key Accounts, and Supermarkets Develop and execute GT channel strategy, including distribution expansion, promotional planning, and outlet penetration Lead annual GT business planning, budgeting, and forecasting, ensuring high forecast accuracy and healthy inventory levels Optimize trade spend, rebates, and promotional ROI, ensuring disciplined investment and value creation Route to Market & Execution Excellence Drive bestinclass routetomarket effectiveness, including active outlet count, strike rates, call productivity, and execution standards Partner closely with the RTM team to improve coverage, efficiency, and frontline execution Ensure strong visibility, display execution, and activation aligned with brand plans across GT outlets Conduct regular trade visits, distributor engagements, and customer business reviews Data, Insights & CrossFunctional Collaboration Leverage external and internal data (e.g. Nielsen, Kantar, shopper insights) to shape GT strategies and commercial decisions Work closely with Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Finance, Trade Marketing, and Distributors to ensure endtoend execution alignment Lead monthly and halfyearly performance reviews with distributors and key stakeholders People & Capability Leadership Lead, coach, and develop the GT sales team and distributor sales forces Build a highperformance culture focused on accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement Strengthen succession pipelines, talent capability, and team morale LI-AL1 What's in it for you A senior leadership role with full ownership of the GT channel , contributing significantly to business resultsOpportunity to shape GT transformation, routetomarket effectiveness, and execution standards High exposure to senior leadership and crossfunctional stakeholders Platform to build and develop sales talent while strengthening distributor partnershipsCompetitive reward package aligned with leadership accountability and performance impact What You need to be successful 5-8+ years of FMCG sales experience, with strong, handson exposure in General Trade Proven track record of delivering sales growth, managing distributors, and leading teams Strong commercial acumen with experience in trade spend management, promotions, and ROI optimization Solid understanding of routetomarket, distributor economics, and GT execution dynamics Ability to analyze data and translate insights into clear commercial actions Strong leadership presence with resilience, influence, and a collaborative mindset Businessoriented, structured, and able to operate effectively in a fastmoving environment Our DEI Commitment At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic. Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.