Silvalis
is a vertically integrated Australian forestry and sandalwood business with a strong provenance story, long-term resource security, and deep relationships across the global natural products, fragrance, and flavours sectors.
The company manages and markets
Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum)
— a species with unique cultural, ecological, and commercial value. Silvalis has access to
long-term, reliable supply over the next 25+ years
.
The brand is built on:
Authenticity
(true Australian provenance)
Sustainable and ethical harvesting
Transparent chain-of-custody
Respect for Aboriginal cultural heritage
Consistent quality and supply reliability
Silvalis services global buyers across fragrance, flavour, incense, aromatherapy, and specialty wood markets.
The company is privately owned, profitable, and entering a new phase of growth expansion domestically and internationally.
2. The Opportunity
Silvalis is seeking a
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
to lead the company into its next phase of growth.
This is a rare opportunity to take stewardship of a uniquely positioned Australian natural-products business with global market demand, strong supply fundamentals, and multi-decade commercial visibility.
The incoming CEO will:
Run and grow an established, profitable enterprise
Lead expansion into new product grades, new markets, and new customer segments
Strengthen the operational and commercial platform for scale
Build a high-performing senior team
Professionalise systems, reporting, and governance
Drive EBITDA growth and prepare the business for eventual sale or capital event
The founders will transition into
Chair / Board roles
, providing strategic oversight while stepping back from day-to-day operations. The CEO will have full operational and strategic authority (within agreed delegation limits).
3. Key Responsibilities
A. Strategic Leadership
Develop and execute Silvalis' 3–5 year strategic plan
Expand our international markets (India, Asia, Middle East, EU, US)
Explore product diversification
Identify and evaluate M&A, JV, and value-addition opportunities
Build the brand's global reputation for provenance, quality, and sustainable supply
B. Operational Management
Lead daily operations across procurement, processing, logistics, compliance, and customer fulfilment
Strengthen QA/QC systems and maintain a verified chain-of-custody
Oversee safety, environmental compliance, and risk management
Drive operational efficiency and margin improvement
Grow revenue through new and existing customers, sectors, and geographies
Maintain key relationships with customers
Lead commercial negotiations, tenders, and long-term supply agreements
Build predictable demand pipelines
Own the P&L, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting
Deliver consistent EBITDA growth
Implement stronger financial controls, KPIs, and board reporting
Manage working capital, inventory, and capital expenditure
E. People & Culture
Lead the senior leadership team (Operations, Finance, HSE, Commercial)
Strengthen capability across the business
Build a performance-oriented culture grounded in safety, quality, and accountability
Recruit and mentor future leaders
F. Exit / Capital Event Preparation
Build due-diligence-ready reporting and governance
Implement structures attractive to strategic acquirers or investors
Drive valuation uplift through operational and commercial excellence
4. Candidate Profile
Experience
The ideal CEO will have:
10+ years senior leadership experience in forestry, agriculture, natural products, FMCG, supply chain, or adjacent heavy-industry sectors
Demonstrated success driving growth in a mid-market business ($20M–$100M typical background)
Strong commercial acumen, with experience negotiating long-term supply or commodity contracts
Experience scaling a business across international markets
Operational discipline: safety, compliance, yield optimisation, quality control
Experience working with founder-led companies is highly advantageous
M&A, vertical integration, or exit-preparation exposure is a strong plus
Capabilities
Strategic thinker + strong operator (rare combination)
Relationship builder with gravitas and authenticity
Financial literacy and comfort with data-led decision-making
Leadership maturity: builds trust, sets direction, holds people accountable
Comfortable working in a business with history, culture, and multi-stakeholder inputs
Deep respect for the cultural significance of Australian sandalwood
Personal Style
Low ego, high accountability
Hands-on when needed, strategic where required
Values-based leadership
Entrepreneurial mindset with corporate discipline
Passion for natural resources, sustainability, and long-term stewardship
5. Compensation Package
$250,000 – $275,000 + Super (depending on experience and fit)
Short-Term Incentive, (STI): Long-Term Incentive (LTI) are offered.
Reporting Structure
CEO ? Board
Quarterly board meetings + monthly performance reporting
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