Account Executive - Portfolio

Cisco Systems, Inc; Mumbai; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc in Mumbai is seeking a dynamic Portfolio Sales Account Executive to lead strategic sales within the service provider sector. You will own the full sales lifecycle—from prospecting and account planning to complex negotiations and closing—driving new business growth and expanding critical relationships with telecom operators and digital infrastructure partners.

The ideal candidate has 7–10 years in enterprise B2B tech sales, with at least 4 years selling to Indian operators and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or postgraduate qualification a plus.
• 7–10 years of enterprise B2B sales experience.
• 4+ years selling technology solutions to Indian telecom operators or service providers.
• Proven track record of meeting/exceeding annual targets in complex deals.
• Strong understanding of Indian service provider ecosystem and related tech.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic sales plan for designated service provider accounts.
• Provide strategic leadership to align portfolio with customer outcomes amid AI, cloud, and 5G shifts.
• Lead cross-functional teams through multi-stakeholder sales cycles to close opportunities.
• Expand footprint within existing clients and cultivate new business.
• Build relationships with C-level executives and procurement teams; manage negotiations.
• Deliver high-impact presentations and executive briefings; demonstrate value proposition.
• Maintain accurate CRM data, forecasts, and opportunities; monitor market trends.

Skills

Enterprise B2B sales

Telecom/Service Provider

Strategic account leadership

C-level engagement

CRM platforms

English & Hindi fluency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/IT/Engineering

MBA or postgraduate qualification

Tools

CRM platforms

Sales enablement tools

Job description

Meet the Team

We are seeking a dynamic, results-driven Portfolio Sales Account Executive to join our Service Provider team in Mumbai. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, telecommunications and service provider networks are undergoing unprecedented transformation driven by AI, cloud adoption, 5G deployment, and critical digital infrastructure modernization. In this role, you will provide strategic account leadership to navigate these complex industry shifts, driving new business growth and expanding existing relationships with telecommunications companies, managed service providers, and digital infrastructure partners. You will own the entire sales lifecycle—from strategic prospecting and account planning to complex negotiations and closing. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of the service provider landscape in India, a proven track record of exceeding quota in technology sales, and the ability to articulate high-value business solutions to C-level executives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic sales plan for assigned account within the service provider sector to achieve and exceed annual revenue targets.

• Provide strategic account leadership to align our portfolio with customer business outcomes amidst ongoing digital infrastructure, AI, cloud, and 5G transformations.

• Orchestrate cross-functional teams and internal resources - including product specialists, solution engineers, and customer success teams to lead complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles.

• Identify, cultivate, and close new business opportunities while simultaneously expanding our footprint within existing client portfolios.

• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with C-level executives, procurement teams, and key technical decision-makers within major service provider organizations.

• Conduct high-impact presentations, product demonstrations, and executive briefings that effectively communicate our value proposition and technical capabilities.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date sales pipeline data, forecasts, and customer records using our CRM platform.

• Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and regulatory changes within the Indian telecommunications and service provider industry to identify emerging opportunities.

• Participate in industry events, trade shows, and networking functions to represent the company and generate new leads.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. An MBA or postgraduate qualification is a plus.

• 7-10 years of experience in enterprise B2B sales, including at least 4 years selling technology solutions to telecommunications operators, service providers, or related organizations in India.

• Experience meeting or exceeding annual sales targets for complex, high-value technology solutions.

• Strong understanding of the Indian telecommunications and Service Provider ecosystem, including telecom operators, internet service providers, and cloud service providers.

• Working knowledge of IP/MPLS, SRv6, Agentic Operations (Agentic Ops), and Crossworks, with the ability to connect these technologies to customer needs and network transformation initiatives.

• Understanding of Data Center business and networking infrastructure, with the ability to connect Service Provider solutions with data center, cloud, and digital infrastructure requirements.

• Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with experience engaging customers across different levels of an organization, including senior and executive leaders.

• Experience managing complex sales opportunities, including commercial negotiations, multi-year agreements, and Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

• Strong business and financial understanding, with the ability to develop and communicate value propositions and commercial proposals.

• Experience using CRM platforms and sales enablement tools to manage customer relationships, opportunities, and sales pipelines.

• Fluency in English and Hindi is required. Knowledge of regional languages spoken in Mumbai and surrounding business hubs is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Service Provider NPE (Network Platform Engineering) or supporting SP network transformation initiatives.

• Experience in the Service Provider or Telecommunications industry, with an established understanding of customer needs and market dynamics.

• Experience supporting or leading digital transformation initiatives within large organizations.

• Experience managing complex, long-cycle sales opportunities involving multiple stakeholders.

• Knowledge of AI, cloud computing, networking, software-defined networking (SDN), and 5G technologies and their application in the Service Provider market.

• Experience building relationships with senior decision-makers across major Service Provider accounts in India.

• Experience working with Global Systems Integrators (GSIs) and other strategic technology partners is a plus.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era - and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.