90 Minds Community

Note that this organizational announcement describes Rich Spring -- Chief Revenue Officer -- as ""lead the channel strategy for Sage North America"". This is a new duty that was not in the press release that Sage sent out last week. Makes it seem as if Rich Spring is Joe Langner's replacement - but who knows. John Pullen - who was EVP Sales - is thanked for his interim leadership of sales. I wonder if Pullen knew it was interim? And from the sounds of the press release Pullen sticks around to work at the direction of Rich Spring. Confused?

EVP does not get hired to do an interim job - or you call them Interim ... Safe to assume there is more going on here.

When they do their searches I wonder what the criteria are. Understanding the complex sale? Experience in the ERP market? Working with a professional channel? Understanding, experience, or perspective of the shift toward cloud sales?

It's a mystery to me. And to lead the NA channel strategy when most partners are diversifying as fast as they can. Good luck.

Things went left when Sage hired Sue Swenson with her background in cellular telephone service. You think they would have learned from that experience.

This is the first time I can remember seeing someone introduced as a Chief Revenue Officer. The part that concerns me most is the ""key focus on exceeding new revenue growth targets"" based on the most recent track record of squeezing the channel in terms of tier and margins. If you can't increase growth of new customers you can certainly increase revenue growth by giving away less to your sales people (channel), right? Can't wait for the next channel strategy call with Rich Spring. Yippee!

He has spent 20 years at one firm: Symantec. That, alone, raises flags for me. The other is that, while Symantec has significant channel operations, they all go to the IT departments. Spring's LI profile lists ""EVP"" as part of his title. I don't see how Pullen sticks around with that. I have no doubt that Sage is considered ""very damaged goods"" for any sales exec. They aren't going to get the ""A"" candidates. Sheesh, I'm not sure they can attract the ""B"" candidates. My Secret Pollyanna keeps hoping she will see anything out of Irvine that she can grasp --- but it ain't gonna happen while Pascal is there.