Sasha Russell

Over the last 5/6 years I have worked with numerous clients across a multitude of sectors offering consultancy and plug in and play BD in varying levels from developing a full sales team to contracting as Sales & Marketing Director or Head of Business Development for agencies, B2B, B2C and non profit organisations. Since our inception we have worked with over 60 organisations on fixed term and short term contracts and I have contracted on long term engagements in Senior BD/ Sales Director roles all under NDA.

My most recent contract role -

I was appointed as contract Sales Director

Tasked with the following -

• Bringing an inbound sales team together after the pandemic and evaluating the skills and personalities within the team to work out who was able to drive the sales function forward and who needed to be performance managed out.

• Taking over the management and development of the sales team including changing job titles and descriptions, training and development in outbound sales

• Developing a full biz dev strategy

Results -

• Managing the new outbound process and strategy to cover the recovery and then growth phases of the business coming back from covid losses of 50% revenue.

• Managed the instruction and pitch process of a digital marketing agency to develop a full paid and organic marketing strategy.

• Managed the appointment and development of the companies brand refresh and social media plan

• Supported the development of a 12 month website redevelopment and deployment project ) Launched Dec 2021 on very small budgets

• Created a full business development strategy and outreach plan for a new business proposition for manages shop and drop shipping clients and took to market

• Developed a corporate business strategy to develop new income streams

• Developed a partnership programme with other merchandise providers

• New 360 degree sales team developed

• Defined new core offerings for the B2B arm of the business

I was hired as the first BDM the business had ever had in its 10-year history, I was to lead and develop the agency's digital and experiential offering reporting into the MD. The role unfortunately despite numerous pitches, wins (Global Brands, MacArthur Glen outlets, Land Sec, Leeds City Council, Jackpot Joy, Technic to name a few) and extensive NB process development was made redundant due to internal issues within the business.

Initially I joined TSA as Business Development Manager to run the strategic sales function across the business. This involved writing and communicating the new business strategy, appointing and briefing a supporting PR agency, training and development of BDM, client development support and strategy and commercial responsibility for all new business. In my short time there I developed three new relationships with AG Barr, Travis Perkins and Brand house Godrej (health and beauty products) the role there was unfortunately not what I initially thought it would be and developed into more of a CSD position supported by telesales and appointment setting.