Mike Prior
Bredbury,Stockport
Summary
A diligent and enthusiastic sales manager/director of business development with over 15 years' experience. Alongside expertly leading dynamic sales teams to generate sales growth and exceed targets by developing value added sales strategies. I'm a competitive sale professional proficient at leading all aspects of the sales cycle, from consulting with clients to gathering requirements and proposing solutions, to managing contracts and facilitating sales training to any sales team. Excellent at identifying top performers and cultivating sales abilities in both new and existing team members, also setting ambitious goals and identifying areas for advancement. Passionate about sales processes and developing innovative techniques for sales teams to develop. I have extensive experience within financial services involving insurance companies, accountancy's, brokers and banks. Over the years I have built up strong relationships within the finance sector, which I still use today.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work history
UK Sales Manager
Vambrace Cybersecurity
Leeds
08.2024 - 07.2025
- Company Overview: Services: In-house SOC/MDR, Sumo Logic (SIEM), Crowdstrike – Endpoints/Firewalls/Threat Intelligence, Bitdefender – Endpoints/Data protection, Vicarius – VMS, Tenable, Censornet – Cloud security/ID Management, Knowbe4 – Phishing simulation/security awareness, Mimecast – email security, Forfend & One Compliance – Pen testing, Barracuda – Backup/Recovery, Palo Alto – Cloud security, Firewalls, Threat Intelligence, Security Scorecard – Data protection/third party risk management. Disti relationships: Arrow, E92, Exclusive Networks, Westcon, Distology, Infinigate.
- Define key target markets/accounts to focus.
- Changing the business to a consultative model to suit the services and solutions we provide.
- Designing and implementing sales strategy to the business for organic growth.
- Selling into sectors such as financial, manufacturing, public sector, charities, retail.
- Using frameworks like: NIST2, PCI DSS, ISO, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), SOC 2.
- Keeping retention rate above 80%.
- Developing marketing strategy.
- Responsible for growing the business in key areas.
- Recruiting new business sales people and Account Directors.
- Working closely with cyber lawyers, insurance companies, accountants to provide cyber services.
- Working with Kennedy's LLP, CFC Insurance, PIB Insurance, Coalition, Cowbell Insurance and Crowe Accountancy to name a few.
- Setting up partnerships like Cyxcel.
- Services: In-house SOC/MDR, Sumo Logic (SIEM), Crowdstrike – Endpoints/Firewalls/Threat Intelligence, Bitdefender – Endpoints/Data protection, Vicarius – VMS, Tenable, Censornet – Cloud security/ID Management, Knowbe4 – Phishing simulation/security awareness, Mimecast – email security, Forfend & One Compliance – Pen testing, Barracuda – Backup/Recovery, Palo Alto – Cloud security, Firewalls, Threat Intelligence, Security Scorecard – Data protection/third party risk management. Disti relationships: Arrow, E92, Exclusive Networks, Westcon, Distology, Infinigate.
- Coordinated with marketing department for successful product launches.
- Streamlined sales processes resulting in improved efficiency.
- Negotiated contracts for better terms and conditions.
- Maintained comprehensive knowledge of industry trends and competitors' activities.
- Provided exceptional after-sales service, promoting repeat business.
- Managed key accounts, enhancing client relationships.
- Developed new partnerships for business growth.
- Travelled extensively meeting potential clients and establishing rapport.
- Delivered sales presentations, securing lucrative contracts.
- Created sales forecasts to inform strategic planning.
- Analysed sales reports to identify trends and update strategies.
- Optimised sales methods to best engage, acquire and retain customers.
- Defined business strategies and roadmaps to drive performance across sales, promotions and marketing departments.
- Increased customer satisfaction by implementing new sales strategies.
- Improved team performance through effective coaching and mentoring.
Director
Vaioni Group
Manchester
03.2023 - 03.2024
- Company Overview: Cyber Security - 12 month secondment, Target: £500k Achieved: £1.89m Individual Target £600k. Services: SD-WAN, Network security Firewalls, security frameworks, Email security, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Sandboxing, VPN (Remote Access), DDOS, SOC, SIEM, SOAR, Incident Response, Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Scanning, Cloud security, Data security, EDR, MDR, XDR.
- Responsible for growing the cyber security business unit from the beginning.
- Experience of selling into sectors such as pharmaceuticals, energy, manufacturing, retail, public sector, financial services, transportation/logistics, engineering.
- Grew the sales team to 6 and growing.
- Revenue and GP targets for the Vaioni business.
- Alongside the senior leadership and sales, marketing and product management teams compile the Vaioni Cyber security proposition including go to market messaging and campaigns.
- A lot of my work was setting up relationships, which involved cyber lawyers, insurers and insurance broker.
- Create and deliver my own pipeline worth of sales.
- Conduct face to face meetings with key clients to understand their opportunities, challenges and IT projects, positioning how Vaioni can support and add value with their security propositions.
- Complete Account Development plans, setting growth strategy for all accounts and increasing our profile with senior decision makers.
- Define key target market/accounts and focus.
- Build a sustainable pipeline of sales opportunities that will support the delivery of monthly sales targets.
- Cyber Security - 12 month secondment, Target: £500k Achieved: £1.89m Individual Target £600k. Services: SD-WAN, Network security Firewalls, security frameworks, Email security, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Sandboxing, VPN (Remote Access), DDOS, SOC, SIEM, SOAR, Incident Response, Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Scanning, Cloud security, Data security, EDR, MDR, XDR.
- Developed comprehensive business plans for company growth.
- Managed negotiations with clients to secure profitable contracts.
- Conducted strategic planning sessions to drive corporate objectives.
- Initiated business development activities, expanded client base.
- Directed team to deliver high-quality customer service.
- Led team to streamline operations by implementing new strategies.
- Instituted cost control measures, mitigated financial risk.
- Designed business strategies to obtain short and long-term goals for company.
- Established and monitored key performance indicators, gauging organisational success.
- Monitored operations to assess and highlight results.
- Established strong rapport with stakeholders to enhance business credibility.
- Maintained organisational compliance with applicable legislation and regulations.
- Recruited and managed senior staff with focus on delivering clear results.
Cyber Security/Managed IT Services Sales Manager
CYFOR
Manchester
03.2020 - 03.2023
- Company Overview: Services: Sentinel One, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Axicent, Terra, Draytrek, Watchguard, Webroot, Mimecast, ID Agent, Connect Wise.
- Target: £600k Year 1 Achieved £800k £200k per year for each sales person.
- Target £1.575m Year 2 Achieved £2.1m £525k per year for each sales person.
- Managing a team of five people and my own sales target.
- Providing technical professional service with an emphasis on cyber security, security strategy, advanced cyber defence, managed services and cloud services.
- Having my own pipeline to deliver to target.
- 2 sales people, 2 business executive and a marketing executive.
- Team leadership and support.
- Preparing a sales strategy for my team to execute.
- Producing weekly, monthly and quarterly reports through Salesforce.
- Provide ongoing coaching for the team.
- Roadmap creation.
- Services: Sentinel One, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Axicent, Terra, Draytrek, Watchguard, Webroot, Mimecast, ID Agent, Connect Wise.
- Led high-performance sales teams, ensuring achievement of targets.
- Sculpted a high-performing sales culture through regular motivation sessions and reward schemes.
- Propelled company towards achieving set KPIs and goals through comprehensive strategic planning and execution.
- Forged strategic partnerships with stakeholders for profitable outcomes.
- Developed robust client relationships for improved business growth.
- Managed key accounts, resulting in consistent revenue generation.
- Pioneered the implementation of CRM systems for improved data management and customer relations.
- Oversaw planning and execution of targeted sales and marketing strategies.
- Supported front-line sales teams with well-coordinated administrative operations.
- Strategised cross-promotions with new and existing partners to expand sales and marketing opportunities.
- Developed pricing structures based on historical and current trends, competitor activities and supply chain data.
Sales Manager
MHR
Nottingham
04.2018 - 03.2020
- Company Overview: Payroll & HR Solutions.
- Target: £5.4m Year 1.
- Target £5.4m Year 2.
- Order value from £1,500 - £100k plus.
- Individual Target: £540k per year Monthly Target £45k.
- Managing a team of 10 comprising of sales, marketing, implementation, telesales, telemarketing.
- Producing weekly, monthly, quarterly reports through Salesforce.
- Payroll & HR Solutions.
- Forged strategic partnerships with stakeholders for profitable outcomes.
- Improved bottom-line results with meticulous budget control.
- Enhanced market penetration with effective territory management.
- Streamlined sales processes to enhance team productivity.
- Developed robust client relationships for improved business growth.
- Drove revenue growth by identifying and capitalising on emerging market trends.
- Managed key accounts, resulting in consistent revenue generation.
- Oversaw planning and execution of targeted sales and marketing strategies.
- Used multi-source data to determine sales and delivery terms for products and services.
- Coordinated and managed paid marketing campaigns on different platforms, carefully overseeing results to deliver maximum ROI.
Sales Manager
Ricoh UK
Northampton
08.2016 - 04.2018
- Company Overview: Managed Services.
- 1st Year Target: - £15.2m per annum Achieved: £15.8m.
- Yearly Individual Target: £1.2m.
- 2nd Year Target: £16.5m Achieved: £17.2m Yearly Individual Target: £1.8m Achieved: £1.95m.
- Order value range £1k - £100k plus.
- Managing the UK & EMEA operation comprising of 15 sales people, 2 x pre sales & a product marketing manager.
- Developing channel and distribution strategy through Ricoh partners as well as dealing with end user clients.
- Working with sales people throughout Europe, Africa & Asia.
- Managed Services.
Sales Manager
Brother International
Manchester
01.2012 - 07.2016
- Company Overview: Managed Print Services.
- 1st Year Target - £250k per annum Achieved £266k.
- 2nd Year Target - £275k per annum Achieved £282k.
- 3rd Year Target - £275k per annum Achieved £310k.
- 4th Year Target - £420k per annum Achieved £420k.
- Order value range £1k - £80k plus.
- Assisting upper management in setting goals.
- Financial planning.
- Overseeing daily activity of the team.
- Preparing budgets & other organisational reports as needed.
- Managing team workloads in order to meet goals/deadlines.
- Developing plans to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
- Managed Print Services.
Business Development Manager
Sage Software
Manchester / London
06.2006 - 12.2011
- Identified market trends, resulting in enhanced product offerings.
- Managed key accounts, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.
- Handled crisis situations effectively, minimising impact on business operations.
- Conducted market research to identify potential business opportunities.
- Implemented marketing initiatives for greater brand visibility.
- Secured new business opportunities by cultivating strong relationships with potential clients.
- Drove revenue growth with innovative sales strategies.
Education
North Notts College
BSc (Hons) - Software Engineering
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield 09/1998 - 06/2002
Elizabethan High School
Skills
- Leadership Skills
- New business sales
- Sales Coaching
- Problem Solving
- Sales plans/territory planning
- Roadmap Planning
- Board Reporting
- Recruiting
- Budget Management
- People Management
- Cyber security solutions
- Sales strategy development
- Market analysis
- Sales forecasting
- Strategic thinking
- Multi-Channel sales experience
Personal Information
Date of birth: 07/06/77
Timeline
UK Sales Manager
Vambrace Cybersecurity
08.2024 - 07.2025
Director
Vaioni Group
03.2023 - 03.2024
Cyber Security/Managed IT Services Sales Manager
CYFOR
03.2020 - 03.2023
Sales Manager
MHR
04.2018 - 03.2020
Sales Manager
Ricoh UK
08.2016 - 04.2018
Sales Manager
Brother International
01.2012 - 07.2016
Business Development Manager
Sage Software
06.2006 - 12.2011
North Notts College
BSc (Hons) - Software Engineering
Sheffield Hallam University
09/1998 - 06/2002
Elizabethan High School
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