What are the skills needed for a managing director?

Depending on the area of the world a Managing Director (MD) is the equivalent of the Chief Executive Officer or President. The former responsibilities encompass strategic decisions, ie the direction of the company, the big picture. As the latter they would be focused on the tactics, ie the day to day operations.

In either case the ability to understand company financials, manage people, general business acumen and the ability to make decisions are crucial skills.