The opportunity: We are conducting an executive search for the Vice President of Marketing for a successful Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area. Company is the leader in an emerging market space that is on target to be a $5B market in the next 3-5 years. Company has grown 400% each year for the last couple of years. Company does not need to raise additional venture money. CEO’s last venture was extremely successful with an exit strategy in the billions. He brought dozens of people with him from his last venture to this company, but needs a top notch VP of Marketing. The new VP will benefit from the fact that the Company’s team is stable and mature, with capable management in product development, customer support, sales, and finance. The new VP will also “have plenty to work with,” thanks to an excellent product that generates quantifiable results for major customers who are pleased to provide references. Need a world class marketing leader who can build a world class brand and positioning. Prefer candidates with IPO experience. / Please do NOT answer with “SEE RESUME” because it will make it very difficult to get you an interview. Client will read your answers and resume before making a decision to interview. Please make sure to put your answers in the blank boxes on the right hand side of the questionnaire. Please do not make any changes to the format or questions. Thanks!

Your Name?

Your Phone Numbers?

Your Email address?

Today’s Date?
BASIC QUESTIONS:
This position will be headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Company is willing to relocate the right candidate. But, working remotely is not an option. Where do you currently live?
If you do not already live in the San Francisco Bay area, then are you flexible to relocate? If yes, then please explain why you would relocate to the area. If no, then please do not complete this form.
Prefer someone to start in the position as soon as possible. When would you be available to start?
Are you currently employed?
Why did you leave or why are you considering leaving your most recent position?
Why did you leave your previous position?
Board is willing and able to put together the right package for the right candidate. The focus is on hiring the BEST candidate. This is a key position, reporting directly to the CEO. Compensation includes base, bonus, stock options, 401k and full benefits package. What are you looking for in terms of compensation? (Please break it down between base, bonus, and equity. I want to know your minimum and your ideal. What is important to you? If you are flexible, then just say that you are flexible. But, I need to know some type of a range or at least know what ballpark we are in. Thanks! Also, Client would really like to know your comp history—W2s over the last couple of years.)
This is senior management position reporting directly to the CEO. However, you will only have a handful of people reporting to you initially. Need someone that can roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done, while building and managing a team. Do you meet these requirements? Can you do the work as well as manage others doing it? Please provide examples of situations where you have done both.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Must have held a position within the last twelve months as a Chief Marketing Officer, VP of Marketing, or Director of Marketing at a very well positioned, branded, successful enterprise software company and/or SaaS company. Do you meet this requirement? If no, then please do not complete this form. If yes, then please answer the following questions:
1)  Are you currently or have you been within the last 12 months a CMO, VP Marketing or Director of Marketing at a very well positioned, branded, successful enterprise software company or SaaS company? If no, then please do not complete this form. If yes, then please continue to answer the questions listed below.
2)  Please state your employer’s name and url. Is the company a SaaS company or Enterprise Software Co.?
3)  What were your employment dates for position? (month/year started v. month/year left position or current date if still employed)
4)  What was your title?
5)  How many years of experience do you have in total as a CMO, VP Marketing and/or Director of Marketing?
6)  How many years of experience do you have in total in enterprise software?
7)  How many years of experience do you have in total in SaaS?
8)  What were the approximate revenues at the company when you started?
9)  What were the approximate revenues at the company when you left? (Or now, if currently employed.)
10)  What achievement are you most proud of while in this position? / PLEASE TYPE YOUR ANSWER TO EACH QUESTION NEXT TO THE CORRESPONDING NUMBER. THANK YOU.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
Need someone who enjoys the entrepreneurial atmosphere of a small company, but has been through the experience of scaling up an enterprise to significant organization size and revenues. Experience working in a dynamic (i.e. “startup”) environment is preferred as well as a successful track record building a product from early adoption through market share leadership. The new VP Marketing must have experience building a company from nominal revenues to phenomenal revenues at least once in their career. Prefer someone with experience taking a company through an IPO. Have you previously done this before? If yes, then please explain. Be as specific as possible (e.g. approximate revenues when you started v. when you left; number of users when you started v. when you left) Did you participate in the company’s IPO and/or exit? If yes, then please explain. If no, then explain what you have previously achieved that makes you capable to do this now? (This is the Board’s most important requirement. So make sure to give a specific example or two that will help to get you an interview.)
Must be able to outline at least one example of how you successfully built “buzz” around a brand that was virtually unknown when you started working on it. Do you meet this requirement? If yes, then please explain.
Must be able to lead. Must understand the core of marketing. Must be very strategic in building up the marketing image and presence of the brand in its several marketplaces. Must have experience developing brand collateral materials, speeches, presentations and all other support materials, online and offline, geared toward the needs of specific opportunities and audiences. Must be eager and able to build a crisp, compelling message for a variety of audiences. Do you meet these requirements? If yes, then please explain.
Candidates must have significant experience marketing enterprise software and/or solutions to at least one of the following two verticals: 1) e-Commerce/Media websites like Yahoo, eBay, Google, etc. 2) B2B or consumer companies like Oracle, Salesforce, Apple, Adobe, Symantec, VMWare, etc. Do you meet this requirement? If no, then please do not complete this form. If yes, then please explain. Make sure to drop some names here that would really help to get you an interview.
Candidates must understand web technologies, web application, and related technologies like web analytics, content management, search, SEO & SEM, CRM, email, e-Commerce or media platforms. Do you meet these requirements? If no, then please do not complete this form. If yes, then please explain. Make sure to outline a specific example or two.
Strong communications background and business acumen are required. Prefer candidates that earned undergraduate and MBA degrees from respected universities. However, experience and talent are more important. Looking for candidates that are highly intuitive on strategy and highly analytical on execution. Must be results focused. Must have natural born marketing talent that can make complex things simple. Do you meet these requirements? What is your education?
PERSONAL SUMMARY:
This position will be the Company’s top marketing officer, reporting directly to the CEO. As a key member of the management team, you will actively participate in the important decisions facing the Company. The CEO is very big on creativity and challenging norms. He believes in hiring the best people, then providing them with clear incentives and responsibilities. Get the A+ people on the bus first, and then let them drive it. Focus is on results. Need someone who thrives under tough timeline pressure and the need to show pragmatic, measurable results. He wants someone who knows how to work effectively as part of a management team by building respect and trust. Is this environment appealing to you? Why? Please describe your management style and work ethics.
Please list for me in order of importance the factors that are going to determine which position you accept next.
What work accomplishment are you most proud of?
Tell me about someone who has been in the news within the last decade that you admire. Why do you admire this person?

Copyright (c) 2009 MatchStar, Inc. All rights reserved.