STEVE SHERWOOD
Commercial & Revenue Leader helping organisations improve sales performance, strengthen customer growth, and deliver predictable revenue outcomes.
With more than 20 years of experience across New Zealand and Australia, I work with organisations to strengthen their sales capability, go-to-market strategy, and revenue performance.
I’ve led commercial teams, owned multi-million-dollar revenue portfolios, and helped businesses build the structure and accountability required for sustainable growth.
About My Work
My background includes leadership roles across sales, marketing and account management, where I’ve been responsible for multi-million-dollar revenue portfolios and building high-performing commercial teams. While much of my experience comes from technology and services businesses, the core of my work has always focused on commercial performance: improving go-to-market strategy, strengthening pipeline management, and creating structured approaches to customer acquisition, retention and expansion.
Working across multiple organisations and industries has given me a strong understanding of how businesses grow and where commercial performance is often constrained.
It has also given me a practical perspective on how sales, marketing, operations and leadership decisions intersect to drive predictable revenue performance.
Commercial Impact
Professional Experience…
I’ve worked across a range of environments, from fast-growing service providers to established commercial organisations, helping leadership teams build structured, predictable approaches to growth.
Fractional Sales & Marketing Strategist
Helping small businesses build repeatable growth systems and make better commercial decisions on a fractional basis.
I partner with small businesses across Auckland to provide hands-on sales and marketing leadership. My goal is to help owners build repeatable growth systems, strengthen customer relationships, and make better commercial decisions without the cost of a full-time position.
Key activities include:
- Assessing current sales and marketing performance, identifying gaps, and designing action plans to drive revenue growth and market impact.
- Developing and implementing practical sales strategies, including pipeline management, account ownership, and opportunity qualification.
- Advising on marketing strategy, messaging, positioning, and channels to align with customer buying behaviour.
- Coaching business owners and sales teams on execution, accountability, and commercial decision-making.
- Acting as a trusted advisor to leadership teams, helping translate strategy into measurable, actionable outcomes.
If you’re a business looking to strengthen your sales, marketing, or commercial operations without committing to a full-time leadership role, I’d love to discuss how I can help your team grow.
Head of Sales & Marketing
- Own a $4.5M recurring revenue portfolio across acquisition, retention, expansion and marketing
- Lead cross-functional teams across sales, account management and marketing
- Member of the senior leadership team contributing to commercial strategy and operational improvement
- Delivered a 150% uplift in new customer acquisition through structured GTM execution
- Improved client profitability, lifted NPS from +12 to +36, and reduced out-of-contract revenue by 14%
Jul 2024 – Present
Sales & Marketing Manager (Contract)
- Engaged to lead sales and marketing transformation during a growth phase
- Delivered company rebrand and implemented CRM and digital demand generation
- Achieved 140% year-on-year customer growth
- Contract extended beyond initial term due to performance
Channel Development Manager
- Managed a $10M vendor portfolio across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
- Built partner enablement programs and executed vendor GTM strategies
- Achieved 118% of FY22 target; awarded 100 Percent Club
- Contributed to securing Distributor of the Year (2023)
Head of Sales & Customer Experience
- Owned $3.5M in revenue and led teams across sales and customer experience
- Reduced average sales cycle length by 17%
- Improved profitability by 7% through stronger commercial governance
- Achieved a 9/10 employee engagement score through coaching and leadership
Key Account Manager & Team Leader
- Managed enterprise and mid-market portfolios up to $4.5M
- Led and mentored account management teams
- Delivered up to 164% of annual sales targets; 120% during contract engagement
- Recognised as Top Account Manager for three consecutive years
- Lifted customer advocacy with NPS exceeding +30
Senior Account Manager
- Managed a portfolio of enterprise customers across Victoria
- Owned a portfolio exceeding $2.4M AUD with a strong focus on renewals
- Coordinated internal technical and service delivery teams
- Maintained high renewal rates and sustained portfolio performance
- Managed enterprise relationships including GM Holden and SEEK
Business Account Manager & Second-in-Charge (2IC)
- Managed a $4.8M SME customer portfolio with direct revenue responsibility
- Acted as second-in-charge, supporting and coaching eight account managers
- Contributed to team performance and customer retention strategies
- Maintained the lowest churn rate nationally during the award period
- Received a national Sales Achievement Award
Corporate Client Manager
- Managed large corporate accounts across retail and distribution sectors
- Led customer transitions from traditional telco services into ICT solutions
- Engaged senior stakeholders across complex customer organisations
- Coordinated service transitions across internal delivery teams
- Built strong, long-term client relationships during a period of industry change
Business Development Manager
- Drove new business development within the SME market
- Managed the full sales lifecycle from prospecting to close
- Expanded the SME customer base and regional market presence
- Supported junior staff development through mentoring
- Consistently ranked in the Top 5 nationally for sales performance
Work related skills and experience…
Sales & Revenue Leadership
Go-to-Market Strategy & Execution
Customer Retention & Expansion
Commercial Governance & Forecasting
Account Management & Enterprise Engagement
Team Development & Performance
Technology, Cloud & Digital Sales Environments
AI-Enabled Sales & Marketing
Achievements…
ITIL 4
Service management principles & practices
Agile Fundamentals
Agile methodology & iterative delivery
Sales Operations – The Complete MasterClass
Sales operations, forecasting and pipeline discipline
The Complete Digital Marketing Course
Digital channels, demand generation and analytics
AI Essentials for Business
Applying AI to sales, marketing and customer engagement
Certificate in Marketing & Marketing Management
Marketing strategy and execution
Leadership 4.0 – Becoming an Effective Manager and Leader
Advanced people leadership and performance management
Executive Diploma in Leadership
Leadership & executive capability development
Diploma in Digital Transformation
Technology-led business transformation
Certificate in Financial Management
Commercial and financial decision-making
Diploma in Business Management
Commercial management and organisational leadership
Extensive IT Vendor Training
Microsoft Cloud, managed services and cybersecurity
King’s College Auckland
Secondary education
Kumeu Emergency Network
Community emergency response and coordination
Kumeu Community Action Group
Local community support and engagement
West Auckland Emergency Response Committee
Regional emergency preparedness and response
SME Sales & Marketing Support
Advisory and hands-on support for small and medium businesses
Rotary International – Social Media Trainer
Training and support for digital and social media capability
What People Say…
I believe commercial success starts with clarity of purpose, disciplined execution, and people who are aligned around shared outcomes. Sales teams perform at their best when they have clear goals, reliable processes, and leadership that connects strategy to front-line execution.
I also believe technology organisations win when they prioritise customer success. Investing in retention and expansion is just as critical as acquiring new business, and long-term growth comes from strong relationships built on trust and value.
If this resonates, let’s talk about how I can help your business grow.
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