Gabriel Blanc-Lainé

Current

VP Sales & Marketing at Qtask

Past

VP Business Operations at Tekelec
VP Product Management & Marketing at Tekelec
AVP Product Management at Tekelec

EVP Sales & Marketing at Steleus
VP Marketing & International Business Development at SellingVision
VP Regional Sales at Cegetel
Regional Sales Manager at Sybase
European Sales Training Manager at Sun Microsystems
Channel Sales Executives at Sun Microsystems
Sales Representative at Texas Instruments

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Education

Ecole centrale de Lille
Lycée du Parc, Lyon

Recommended

26 people have recommended Gabriel

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Computer Software

Websites

Gabriel Blanc-Lainé’s Summary

International Large Company (Sun Microsystems, Sybase, Texas Instruments, Vivendi) & Start up Experience / Top Line, Margin & Profit Growth / P&L / M&A / Team Building / Brand Creation / Social Media

Senior executive with strong organizational, management, motivational, coaching and leadership skills. Proven track record in international C-level hardware, software and service sales, marketing and business operations in high growth and highly competitive environments. Multi–product, market and channel high-tech background.

• Quadrupled Qtask (SaaS start-up) installed base in 12 months
• Drove Tekelec’s CSSG’s sales from $18M in 2004 to $75M in 2006
• Tripled Tekelec’s CSSG product line sales in North America
• Overcame cultural and language problems during Steleus / Tekelec integration
• Restored Steleus profitability, doubling international business contribution

Gabriel Blanc-Lainé’s Specialties:

International Sales Marketing Product Mgt. / SaaS / SW / Telco / Strategic thinker / Tactical doer / Bottom line oriented / Master market positioning, online & social media marketing & Strategic Selling / Excellent analysis & synthesis skills/ Strong executive image / Natural leader / Strong ethics & values / Handle rapid change easily / Inspire others to top performance / Coach & develop teams / Know international markets / Make forceful group presentations / International C-level contacts.

Gabriel Blanc-Lainé’s Experience

VP Sales & Marketing

Qtask

(Privately Held; Computer Software industry)

March 2008 — Present (1 year 9 months)

Founded in 2007, Qtask delivers an integrated, Web-based collaboration and project management environment.

Defined positioning, product roadmap, and go to market strategy. Successfully launched company at DEMOfall 08 in San Diego. Hired team. Created and implemented offline, online & social media marketing plan resulting in quadrupling the installed base, and getting a website Google rank of 5/7 and the 2009 Red Herring NA100 Award.
VP Business Operations

Tekelec

(Public Company; TKLC; Telecommunications industry)

April 2007 — September 2007 (6 months)

Established CSSG’s first formal business operations processes and transformed the CSSG business ($75M) to fully scalable on a worldwide basis. Achieved first step of TL9000 Certification.

Directed Business Operations for the Communications Software Solutions Group (CSSG) business unit resulting in improved process and results in 4 main areas: customer satisfaction, product quality, program management and revenue forecast. Established a new software life cycle process, defined short and long term quality goals and managed TL9000 certification program.
VP Product Management & Marketing

Tekelec

(Public Company; TKLC; Telecommunications industry)

October 2005 — April 2007 (1 year 7 months)

Managed all CSSG marketing and product management activities including P&L, price and margin establishment, and achieved fourfold revenue (from $18M in 2004 to $32M in 2005 and $75M in 2006).

Completed post acquisition Steleus (prior employer) and Tekelec PMM teams integration (Tekelec acquired Steleus for $56M in Oct. 2004). Unified and developed 45-person Product Management and Marketing team (France, US/India and Brazil across 6 facilities), integrating different cultures, product knowledge and business practices.

Successfully completed design, development, launch and support of new product to gain access to Tier1 market.
AVP Product Management

Tekelec

(Public Company; TKLC; Telecommunications industry)

January 2005 — September 2005 (9 months)

Completed first step of Steleus integration within Tekelec after October 2004 acquisition (people, culture, knowledge, process, tools).

Completed market analysis, product positioning and solution strategy. Launched and monitored roadmap and development programs ($20M).
EVP Sales & Marketing

Steleus

(Privately Held; Telecommunications industry)

June 2001 — December 2004 (3 years 7 months)

Member of four-person executive management team, with primary responsibility for developing international sales and marketing programs, while contributing to the overall management of the company.

Restored Steleus profitability, doubling international business contribution from 30% in 2001 to 70% in 2004 (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pac.). Increased annual revenue by a 20%+ average.

Clarified positioning, value proposition and targeted markets. Hired new resources (Europe, Singapore), got rid of low performers, reorganized sales territories, roles and responsibilities, established business discipline and metrics.

Closed a Master Purchase Agreement with Orange Group worth 30% of the company revenue in 2003/2004. Won Agilent account that generated $17M to Tekelec in 2006.
VP Marketing & International Business Development

SellingVision

(Internet industry)

June 2000 — April 2001 (11 months)

Member of the executive team for a start-up company providing web-based sales force automation tools (SFA/CRM SaaS). Responsible for establishing and developing EMEA sales and marketing strategy and operations.

Achieved 1st round of financing for $4M with three major VC companies; Viventures, Partech International, and Access2Net.

Established SellingVision as a leader in the emerging European SFA/SaaS market , developed a powerrful brand and managed press relations.

Negotiated key partnerships such as Dun & Bradstreet. Established first year customer base of 30 customers, 350 users.

Developed EMEA 2001-2003 business plan, leading to $6.5M fund raise at 2d round of financing.
VP Regional Sales

Cegetel

(Privately Held; Telecommunications industry)

November 1996 — May 2000 (3 years 7 months)

Cegetel, a start-up telecommunication operator was created and funded by Vivendi, Vodafone and Bell South in November 1996. Responsible for creating sales organization and developing sales for voice and data products in the south eastern region of France.

Established a team of 70+ sales engineers, system engineers and sales managers in 18 months to sell into Enterprises and SME's market directly and via channels.

Achieved sales of $10M in 1997, $38M in 1998, $56M in 1999 and $70M in 2000.
Regional Sales Manager

Sybase

(Public Company; SY; Computer Software industry)

November 1992 — October 1996 (4 years )

Managed a seven-person sales team.
Increased sales from 7M Francs in 1993 to 15M Francs in 1996 by leveraging partnership with Business Object and Cognos and developing relationships with system integrators.
European Sales Training Manager

Sun Microsystems

(Public Company; JAVA; Information Technology and Services industry)

January 1991 — October 1992 (1 year 10 months)

Established new training curriculum for European sales forces of 630 people spread in 11 countries. Trained sales team in Strategic Selling ® program (certified trainer by Miller Heiman) and coached sales managers.
Channel Sales Executives

Sun Microsystems

(Public Company; JAVA; Information Technology and Services industry)

January 1988 — December 1990 (3 years )

Developed OEM and VAR sales of Sun Unix workstations in the Mediterranean region
Sales Representative

Texas Instruments

(Public Company; TXN; Semiconductors industry)

September 1985 — December 1987 (2 years 4 months)

Developed semiconductor sales at two strategic accounts and managed distributors.

Gabriel Blanc-Lainé’s Education

Ecole centrale de Lille

Ingineer , 1981 — 1984

Activities and Societies:

President of Centrale Lille Job Fair - 1984
Train as a Trainer in Communication and Group Dynamic
Lycée du Parc, Lyon

Major in maths, physics & chemistry 1978 — 1981

Additional Information

Gabriel Blanc-Lainé’s Websites:

Gabriel Blanc-Lainé’s Interests:

Collaboration, Project Management, Web-based Task Management, International Sales and Marketing, Product Management, Operations, Business Intelligence, SaaS, Strategic Selling, Internationale Culture, Travels, Outside Sports, Group Dynamic, Psychology

Gabriel Blanc-Lainé’s Groups:

Council for Entrepreneurial Development - RTP NC; Triangle Networking Group; LinkedIN Live; TAFU, Meetup, Colonial, Execunet

Sun Alumni
Executive Suite
SalesLab
Global Project Management
Triangle Networking Group
Inbound Marketers - For Marketing Professionals
Telecom Professionals
Project Management Link - www.pmlink.org
e-BIZ
Web 2.0
Project Manager Networking Group
eMarketing Association Network
Creating Results from Cultural Diversity
Technology Marketing Community
International Business
International Entrepreneur Club
Project Managers Group
French Connections
Innovative Marketing, PR, Sales, Word-of-Mouth & Buzz Innovators
Certified Project, Program & Portfolio Managers
Social Media Marketing
Sybase Alumni
Centrale Lille Alumni
Texas Instruments Alumni
Sales/Marketing VP's & Directors - Software & Technology
Tekelec
SWOT Team Strategies
ex-Sun Microsystems France
'Ecoles Centrales' Group
Sales and Marketing Professionals Promoting HighTech and Technology in Los Angeles and its Vicinity
Linking Sales Leaders
Sales Playbook!
Interfrench Los Angeles
BASE (BAY AREA SALES EXECUTIVES)
Collaboration & Project Management