Case study

Senior Vice President of Sales -  top software-defined solution company

Germany
Computer monitor displaying a 3D simulation of an electric car powertrain with data on regenerative braking, battery capacity, and efficiency graphs in a high-tech engineering environment.

THE CHALLENGE

Our client, a leading software-defined solution company, experienced rapid growth after securing its first major award with a prominent OEM. To fully capture the opportunities presented by a surge of upcoming RFQs over the next 18 months, the company needed to appoint a Senior Vice President of Sales, which was a pivotal commercial leadership role.  

This individual needed to be an accomplished global sales leader who could engage directly with OEM decision-makers across purchasing, engineering, and R&D, while also managing key Tier 1 partnerships. Beyond that, they needed to build and lead high-performing international sales teams, design scalable commercial structures, and drive customer engagement at the world’s largest automotive OEMs.  

The right candidate would bring credibility, established industry relationships, and the ability to operate with speed, accountability, and influence in a high-growth, innovation-driven environment.

THE SOLUTION

We targeted senior executives from Tier 1 automotive electronics suppliers and adjacent auto-tech companies, particularly those with experience in ADAS, autonomous mobility, and digital technologies.  

Our focus was on individuals with a proven record of engaging global OEMs such as Daimler, BMW, and Volkswagen, breaking into new accounts with authority, and scaling international sales teams with measurable success.  

The ideal profile combined strategic commercial acumen with organizational leadership, ideally someone able to coach talent, instill a performance-driven culture, and deliver growth across global markets.  

While the search remained global in scope, we placed emphasis on Europe, particularly Germany, given its proximity to key OEMs and partner networks. The opportunity was positioned as a chance to join a high-growth, investor-backed company at the forefront of intelligent sensing technology, appealing to top-tier commercial leaders eager to make an impact.

THE RESULT

We successfully identified and secured a senior global executive with more than 25 years of experience in automotive electronics, including autonomous mobility, ADAS, and digital systems, gained at leading Tier 1 suppliers.  

Throughout their career, this individual has:  

  • Built and led international sales organizations across Europe, the U.S., Japan, Korea, and China.  
  • Managed customer relationships with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.  
  • Delivered consistent commercial growth, including doubling sales into the billion-euro range and driving order intake into the upper double-digit billions.  

They bring deep commercial credibility, multi-billion-euro P&L responsibility, and a proven ability to scale performance globally, positioning our client to accelerate its next phase of growth.

The impact

By securing the right leader, our client strengthened its commercial leadership bench and enhanced its ability to expand global OEM relationships. The new SVP of Sales is driving strategic growth initiatives, improving sales team structure, and enabling deeper customer penetration with key OEMs and Tier 1 partners.  

This appointment has positioned our client to capitalize on upcoming RFQ opportunities, expand its global presence, and sustain its momentum as a leading innovator in intelligent automotive sensing technologies.