25+ years building and fixing enterprise regions across EMEA.
Brought in when nothing exists yet - or when the existing setup is underperforming.
- No region exists yet - and you need to start fast
- The region exists - but is missing targets
- Partners are active - but not producing revenue
- The structure exists - but revenue is not following
- C-level access is required from day one
Where Richard fits
If you are running a search in one of these situations, this is where he fits.
First commercial hire in a new region. Done three times.
Fixed broken teams without losing the quarter.
Built partner ecosystems that produce revenue, not just pipeline.
Three situations where this role matters
Three distinct situations. Each requires a different approach.
Build a region from zero
No entity, no team, no pipeline. Done multiple times across EMEA. Establishes commercial presence, lands the first enterprise accounts, and builds a structure that scales.
Fix a stalled commercial operation
Activity is high. Results are not following. What is actually wrong gets identified - whether that is the team, the market approach, the partner model, or the commercial story - and fixed.
Scale with alliances and major accounts
A working regional operation that needs to move upmarket, build strategic partner leverage, or open Fortune 500 relationships it has not been able to crack.
Three ways to work with me
Three engagement options. No legal entity in the region yet is not a problem - work starts immediately and the structure follows.
Direct employment
Standard employment contract. I join as a regional VP, Sales Director, or equivalent executive role and operate as a full member of the leadership team. Suited to companies with an existing legal entity in the region.
Via a recruiter
Works with executive search firms and specialist recruiters. Send the mandate. Response within 24 hours. The conversation is direct.
Interim via invoice
If there is no legal entity in the region yet, or you want to move fast without setting up employment from day one, I can start immediately through my company. I invoice directly. No payroll setup required on your side. This can transition to a permanent role when the structure is ready.
What this looks like in practice
Each of these represents a different scenario. Same capabilities, different starting points.
First commercial hire. Built to €30M+ pipeline in 18 months.
Joined as the first commercial hire for Benelux. No team, no accounts, no infrastructure. Built the regional business from scratch and later moved into global account leadership for Shell, Deutsche Bank, and Nestlé.
Built the first Major Accounts team across two regions from nothing.
Joined to build a major accounts function that did not exist. Recruited and ramped a senior team across five countries and closed the region's largest enterprise deal in year one.
Turned a partner network into a commercial engine generating $10M+ in revenue.
Built a cross-region partner ecosystem with the Big 4 and tier-1 SIs across Europe. Focused on making alliances generate real pipeline, not just relationships.
Took a stalled region to $8M+ ARR in 30 months.
Joined to build and scale the Benelux and Nordics business. Established the commercial structure, built the partner routes, and delivered consistent growth in a highly competitive enterprise security market.
Leadership roles across EMEA
Enterprise software, AI and data platforms, cybersecurity, and partner ecosystems.
Direct contact.
Send the role or mandate.
If it fits, we move fast.