walead

Hire the Account Executive who turns your pipeline into revenue.

Every profile is personally interviewed by Walid before being presented — a real closer able to run the negotiation through to signature, not just a good talker.

Average time < 20 days3 to 5 profiles presented4-month guarantee

The role

The Account Executive owns the sales cycle end to end: qualifying opportunities handed off by the SDRs (or self-generated), running the demo, negotiating and signing. Unlike the SDR who opens the door, the AE closes it — they carry the revenue generated on their portfolio and answer for the forecast to sales leadership.

A bad hire in this role is costly: poorly managed pipeline, deals that drag on, a forecast that deteriorates quarter after quarter. Walid was himself an Account Executive at moka.care before founding Walead — he knows how to spot a real closer from a good talker, and Walead has recruited numerous AEs for scale-ups like Ringover.

The right profile

  • Verifiable closing track record — quota hit or exceeded, not just a well-padded resume.
  • Command of the full sales cycle: discovery, demo, objection handling, negotiation, signature.
  • Comfortable in front of multiple stakeholders (economic buyer, technical buyer, end user) and tight price negotiations.
  • Pipeline and forecast rigor — CRM hygiene, prioritization, honesty about deals at risk.
  • Resilience over a long cycle: handles rejection, follows up at the right time, doesn't drop a deal too early.

Salary range

Salary range
SeniorityBaseVariableOTE
Junior35–40 k€15–20 k€50–60 k€
Mid-level45–55 k€25–35 k€70–90 k€
Senior60–75 k€40–55 k€100–130 k€
Annual gross ranges, sourced from our Walead placements.Provisional figures — to confirm

How we recruit

01 / Brief & framing

We start with your context.

An in-depth call to understand culture, commercial challenges, and non-negotiable criteria. We never start blind.

02 / AI sourcing + network

Active identification.

Our in-house agents + Apify, Kaspr, lemlist and Waalaxy to identify and reach out. Claude and Mistral to analyze and summarize. Fireflies and Noota to capture interviews. LinkedIn Recruiter for search.

03 / Shortlist & closing

5 to 10 aligned profiles.

Every profile presented has been met by Walid in interview. Each with a detailed brief, through to decision, negotiation and onboarding.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between an SDR and an Account Executive?

The SDR qualifies and books meetings; the AE takes over to demo, negotiate and sign. In smaller teams, a single profile can cover both — we scope that together from the brief.

How much does it cost to hire an Account Executive with Walead?

Our success-based fee is 22% of annual gross salary, payable only if the hire goes through. For an urgent or strategic role, the Exclusive Mandate is quoted on request.

Junior or senior — how do I choose for my team?

A junior AE works if your deals are simple, your cycle short and close management in place. On long cycles, high price points, or multi-stakeholder negotiations, an experienced or senior profile sharply reduces the risk of failure.

Do you also place remote or freelance hires?

Yes. We place AEs on CDI as well as remote (France or international), and offer freelance placement for one-off needs, at 20% margin.

A role to fill?

First call free, no commitment. Book a slot or describe your need — we get back to you within 24 business hours.