Senior Sales Director (Asia Pacific)

GE Vernova; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading industrial solutions firm is seeking a Senior Sales Leader to oversee operations in APAC, with a focus on driving sales strategies for software and services. The ideal candidate will have over 20 years of experience in enterprise sales, particularly in the Power Utilities or Industrial Software sectors, and will effectively manage large-scale deals while fostering strong CXO-level relationships. This role is pivotal for market growth and organizational leadership within Asia Pacific.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in enterprise sales, especially in Asia Pacific.
• Strong background in Power Utilities or Industrial Software.
• Proven track record of closing large multi-stakeholder deals.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales strategy for software and services across APAC.
• Build and coach a high-performing sales team.
• Develop executive-level relationships with key customers.

Skills

Sales leadership

Enterprise sales cycles

Operational technologies

CXO relationship building

Large deal management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Science or Electrical Engineering

MBA or advanced business degree

Job description

We are appointing a senior sales leader to oversee the entire APAC region, including ANZ. Both the ANZ team and the rest of the Asia sales teams will report directly to this leader. While we are reusing the budget for Fraser Young in this role, the role is not exactly the same.

Currently, Malaysia has been chosen as the location for this role to optimize costs while attracting a seasoned sales professional. In case we do not find right talent in Malaysia, I am happy for us to look for the right profile in Australia.

We are seeking a strong sales leader with a proven background in industrial software sales across the Asia Pacific region. Key qualifications include a deep understanding of enterprise sales cycles, expertise in operational technologies, and a robust network within CXO communities. Having background of handing large deals, large accounts and competitive tendering process are also quite important for this role.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead the sales strategy for GE Vernova’s software and services offerings across the Asia Pacific region, ensuring strong order and revenue growth and market share expansion.
• Build, coach, and inspire a high-performing regional sales team, working in close collaboration with presales, solutions architects, and product management.
• Leads others to find creative solutions to address complex projects, product lines, markets, sales processes, or customers. Has the ability to evaluate quality of information received and questions conflicting data for analysis. Uses multiple internal and external resources outside of own function to help arrive at a decision.
• Typically a 2nd line Commercial Manager with senior professional direct reports. Has ability to attract and retain talent. Often manages medium to large teams. May lead functional teams or projects with moderate resource requirements, risk, and/or complexity. Communicates complex messages and negotiates mainly internally with others to adopt a different point of view. Influences peers to take action and may negotiate with external partners, vendors, or customers.
• Drive large deal pursuits, including identification, shaping, and closure of transformational opportunities with utilities and industrial clients.
• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships (CXOs) with key existing customers and net-new prospects across the region.
• Collaborate in a matrixed, global organization to leverage functional, technical, and delivery expertise for deal success.
• Ensure excellence in sales forecasting, pipeline management, and reporting, with full compliance to global sales plays, processes, and governance.
• Represent GE Vernova at industry events, conferences, and strategic customer forums.
• Stay ahead of market dynamics, regulatory changes, and funding opportunities to shape proactive sales strategies.
• Be accountable for quota attainment, customer satisfaction, and strategic expansion of GE Vernova’s footprint in APAC.
• Experience in competitor analysis, market analysis, proposal development are critical for the success of this role
• Developing commercial expertise across one or more countries, product lines, markets, sales processes, or customer groups. Influences policy and ensures delivery across large and/or diverse sales territories.
• Interprets internal and external business challenges and recommends best practices to improve products, processes or services. Utilizes understanding of industry trends to inform decision making process.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree related to Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics; MBA or advanced business/technical degree preferred.
• 20+ years of experience in enterprise sales, including regional leadership experience in Asia Pacific.
• Strong background in the Power Utilities sector or Industrial Software domain is essential to this role. Those with an O&G background, but with experience in software technology sales would also be considered.
• Proven track record of closing large, multi-stakeholder software and services deals.
• Prior experience in working with Asia Pacific and Japan clients would be of advantage.
• Those with experience in managing and driving sales for a cluster of countries especially
• ANZ and some of the ASEAN countries would be highly regarded
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-cultural, matrix environments.
• Experience in managing both new customer acquisition and strategic account growth.
• Ability to draw on your excellent communication skills to negotiated contracts and stakeholder influence.
• Strong business acumen, with a solid understanding of customer operations, market economics, and digital transformation imperatives in the utility and industrial sectors.

Desired Characteristics

• Hands-on, facilitative leadership style with the ability to inspire teams and drive outcomes. Strong CXO-level presence, executive storytelling ability, and credibility. High level of accountability, agility, and ownership to meet and exceed business goals. Entrepreneurial mindset with a deep understanding of sales governance and compliance. Passion for innovation and digital technologies that drive decarbonization and grid modernization. Comfort with ambiguity and complexity, and ability to lead through change.