Our firm has been retained to conduct a search for the Vice President of Sales for a leading web services provider in the data services arena.  Our client sits squarely in the middle of a major shift in software; analysts say that 30% of software will be delivered via the Software as a Service (SaaS) model by 2010.  Now a $34B market, Web services are clearly burgeoning, and our client has created a niche with Data Services, delivered on-demand, that is unique.  They are positioned as the aggregator for live, fluid data for developers, data providers, and independent software vendors.  Their technology will manage all of the various data feeds, provide the infrastructure, normalization, usage metering and back end integration to enable the future of data delivery. 

Industry analysts have recognized our client as the leader in this emerging “Data as a Service” (DaaS) market, facilitating the consumption and distribution of live data and business functionality over the Web.  The company’s breakthrough Web Services Marketplace is a technology platform that allows providers and consumers of live data to publish, subscribe to, customize, and build applications and Web sites using a diverse set of XML-based Web services.
 
In addition to the Web Services Marketplace, our client has just launched its on-demand service enablement platform.  This new offering allows enterprises to externalize selected enterprise data, as a service, using our client’s existing infrastructure through a subscription based on-demand service.  Thus, those enterprises looking for an on-ramp to the next generation Web can now leverage an on-demand service providing them with a mechanism to expose and manage core services, and do so in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost of internal development.  This platform offering was just released at the Web 2.0 conference held in April 2008, in San Francisco.

Currently, our client provides more than 120 live data sources and business functions available for public integration via the Web as well as a set of products and tools to simplify and accelerate the consumption of data.  An example of one of these data consumption accelerators is their SOA Express for Excel, enabling business users to access multiple sources of live data via front office applications and customize its presentation.

In addition, through partnerships with large data providers such as D&B, our client is able to provide consistent and easy access to live data that would be otherwise prohibitively expensive and unwieldy for a large segment of the business market.  Our client currently services more than 1,400 customers and partners such as BEA, IBM, Honda Europe, Nissan, Sprint, Dow Jones, Bank of America, Saks Fifth Avenue, Fredericks of Hollywood, Time Warner, Siemens, Nike, Kenwood, and Exclusive Resorts. 

Our client was founded by veteran entrepreneurs with more than 50 years of combined experience in building successful technology companies.  The company has recently completed a $5M round of financing and has venture backing from top tier venture firms.
 
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the successful candidate will possess the following:

•   Five to fifteen years of highly successful sales and sales management experience in a rapidly growing, successful software company ($20M+ in revenue); candidates with experience in the Software as a Service (SaaS), Internet software and infrastructure, data integration, or Web services, service-oriented architecture (SOA) space will be advantaged; the ideal candidate will possess knowledge of the online data/software industry, including the financial and operating metrics; specific experience with the subscription model and associated business scalability issues will be important;

•   A strong track record for delivering results in a start-up environment; entrepreneurial experience coupled with earlier roles within a successful software company;

•   Functional expertise in sales, business development, strategic planning and marketing; will possess a track record of deal making with large enterprise software companies and/or data providers; can execute on a growth plan; will have led appropriate market development with customers, closed substantial partnerships, and grown teams;

•   A commanding presence with outstanding communication skills; a highly professional image with well-developed oral and written presentation skills; the ability to effectively communicate ideas and inspire trust and action;

•   A strategic, general management mentality; a proven leader of people who is capable of becoming a full participant in senior management’s decision-making process;

•   A high energy level; must be a hustler, a doer – someone who understands the urgency of meeting company goals and clients’ needs; possesses contagious enthusiasm; passion and energy; the tenacity to achieve results despite obstacles and challenges;

•   A selfless and mature leader who sets high expectations and effectively communicates; a proven organization driver who gets the most from his/her team.

This is an excellent opportunity to lead a rapidly growing company.  An attractive compensation package, including an equity position, will be tailored to the successful candidate’s requirements.

If you have a personal interest in this position or thoughts of knowledgeable sources or potential candidates, please email  resume2@sockwell.com.  Your suggestions will be held in strictest confidence.