Location: Central Bristol (Queens Square, Bristol)
About Us
GDS Group is a global B2B growth partner, delivering world-class insight, content, pipeline development and immersive event experiences across both virtual platforms and in‑person environments.
With over three decades of expertise, we partner with the world’s leading enterprise brands to connect them with senior decision‑makers through high‑impact, insight‑led experiences. Our mission is to drive meaningful business outcomes by bringing together targeted audiences and transformative solutions in dynamic, results‑driven environments.
Operating internationally with offices in the UK, US and Europe, we are entering a significant phase of scale and are seeking a senior commercial leader to play a pivotal role in that growth.
The Opportunity
This is a strategic, executive‑level leadership role for a high‑calibre VP/SVP of Sales to lead and scale our UK‑based sponsorship sales division.
You will take full ownership of a multi‑million‑pound revenue function, leading a large, high‑performance sales organisation (up to 40 heads) responsible for delivering sponsorship revenue across our global portfolio of digital and in‑person events.
This role goes beyond team management. You will be responsible for defining sales vision, driving commercial strategy and building a best‑in‑class sales engine capable of sustained growth.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Revenue Ownership
* Own and deliver annual revenue targets more than £10M, with full accountability for forecasting accuracy and commercial performance
* Define and execute a scalable sales strategy aligned with global growth objectives
* Partner with executive leadership to shape go‑to‑market strategy, pricing models and product positioning
* Identify new revenue streams, verticals and enterprise opportunities to expand market share
Sales Organisation Leadership (Up to 40 Heads)
* Lead, inspire and scale a high‑performing sponsorship sales organisation of 30–40+ individuals, including Sales Directors and Senior BDMs
* Build a robust leadership layer, developing Sales Directors to drive performance at scale
* Embed a high‑performance, metrics‑driven culture focused on accountability, activity and results
* Drive continuous optimisation of team structure, territories and sales processes
* Oversee the full lifecycle of event sponsorship sales across a global portfolio, including in‑person summits and flagship digital roundtables
* Ensure consistent delivery of high‑value, multi‑touch sponsorship packages to enterprise clients
* Elevate the quality of commercial conversations, ensuring teams engage confidently at C‑suite and senior stakeholder level
* Maintain a deep understanding of client needs to align sponsorship offerings with measurable ROI
Talent Development & Performance Management
* Attract, hire and retain top‑tier sales talent and leadership
* Implement structured coaching, training and leadership development programmes
* Conduct regular performance reviews, pipeline inspections and strategic deal coaching
* Create clear progression pathways to support internal mobility and succession planning
Operational Excellence
* Drive best‑in‑class use of CRM systems (Salesforce preferred) to ensure pipeline visibility, forecasting accuracy and data‑driven decision‑making
* Establish and refine KPIs, sales cadences and reporting frameworks
* Collaborate cross‑functionally with Marketing, Production and Client Success teams to ensure seamless delivery
Executive Stakeholder Engagement
* Act as a senior escalation point for key clients and strategic partnerships
* Build and maintain relationships with enterprise‑level stakeholders and sponsors
* Represent the business externally as a senior commercial leader and brand ambassador
About You
* Proven track record of leading large‑scale sales organisations (20–40+ people) in high‑growth, fast‑paced environments
* Demonstrated success owning and delivering significant revenue targets (£10m+ preferred)
* Deep experience in event sponsorship and solution‑based sales
* Exceptional leadership capability, with a strong track record of building, scaling and transforming teams
* Highly commercial mindset with the ability to operate strategically and tactically
* Credibility and confidence engaging with C‑suite stakeholders and enterprise clients
* Strong background as an individual contributor prior to leadership
* Experience with Salesforce or equivalent CRM platforms
What We Offer
* Market‑leading compensation package with uncapped earning potential (OTE £400K+)
* A true executive‑level platform to shape and scale a major revenue function
* Clear pathway to senior leadership progression within a global organisation
* Access to world‑class training, leadership development, and coaching programmes
* Opportunity to work across international markets and global clients
* A high‑performance, ambitious culture with no ceiling on growth or impact
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