About the role
About Ankush Ankush Speciality Ingredients is a fast-growing Indian distribution company with 25+ years of trusted partnerships, representing globally reputed principals across Specialty Chemicals, Food & Nutrition, and Personal & Home Care. Backed by dedicated application labs, we go beyond distribution to be a single-window, technically-driven solution partner to our customers. Our culture is built on customer centricity, collaboration, commitment and compassion — and on giving talented people a fast-track path to grow. THE OPPORTUNITY We are seeking a sales leader to lead our solvent-based additives and specialty portfolio for industrial coatings, printing inks, adhesives and high-performance applications. This is a high-value, technically rich, long-cycle sale — ideal for someone who thrives on winning OEM specifications, building strategic accounts and selling on value rather than price. WHAT YOU'LL DO • Drive growth & strategy: Grow the business in solvent-based coatings, inks and industrial applications; manage the principal portfolio; build strategies for high-performance segments such as automotive coatings, protective coatings and industrial OEMs. • Win OEMs & institutions: Build relationships with OEMs, large industrial accounts and coating formulators; drive specification approvals and inclusion in customer formulations; manage long-cycle, technically-validated projects. • Position & sell on value: Promote differentiated products — matting agents, waxes, corrosion inhibitors, effect pigments, epoxy systems, silanes — position Ankush as a solution provider, and lead value-based pricing. • Manage key accounts & channels: Grow key industrial accounts and distributors, strengthen presence in high-margin segments, and keep a healthy, well-managed pipeline. • Coordinate principals: Align global principals on India strategy; manage exclusivity discussions, targets and performance reviews; report clearly on pipeline, trials and conversions. • Lead the team: Lead the solvent-based sales team with clear regional ownership, instil discipline in CRM, forecasting and pipeline management, and build technical-selling capability. WHAT YOU'LL BRING • 15–20+ years in industrial coatings, inks or solvent-based systems, with a strong techno-commercial track record • Deep understanding of solvent-based formulations and additives (flow & levelling, wetting & dispersing, matting agents, corrosion inhibitors, effect pigments, epoxy resin & hardener systems, silanes) • A proven record of OEM specification-selling and managing long-cycle, high-value deals • Strong strategic account development, negotiation and commercial acumen • Experience working with a specialty-chemical distribution business and global principals is a strong advantage • Comfort with field engagement and travel, and the ability to lead and develop a regional team HOW YOU'LL BE MEASURED • Revenue and margin growth in the solvent-based portfolio • Number of OEM approvals and specifications achieved • Improvement in high-value product mix • Pipeline conversion ratio • Strategic-account penetration WHY JOIN US A fast-track career with competitive remuneration, a strong performance-and-learning culture, dedicated application-lab support, and the chance to shape a high-margin business alongside world-class principals. Ankush is an equal-opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Reports To: President – Sales & Marketing