Account Executive - France (Enterprise Software Sales)

About the Role

Software AG is seeking an experienced, energetic, and entrepreneurial Account Executive to drive new customer acquisition across the French market. This is a true hunter role focused on opening new accounts, engaging senior business and technology executives, and helping organizations modernize their mission-critical IT environments while embracing AI-driven transformation. The successful candidate thrives on creating opportunities where none previously existed, enjoys winning complex enterprise sales, and is passionate about helping customers unlock business value through modernization, integration, and AI. At least 5 years enterprise sales experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and win new enterprise customers across France.
• Proactively open new doors and build a sustainable pipeline of new-name customers.
• Develop executive-level relationships with CIOs, CTOs, Heads of Infrastructure, Enterprise Architects, and senior business leaders.
• Understand customers' mission-critical IT challenges and translate them into compelling business outcomes.
• Position Software AG's enterprise modernization, integration, data, and AI-enabled solutions.
• Lead complex enterprise sales cycles from initial engagement through contract signature.
• Work closely with Presales, Marketing, Customer Success, Partners, and Product teams to deliver customer success.
• Develop strategic account plans and consistently exceed sales objectives.
• Represent Software AG professionally at executive meetings, industry events, and customer engagements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher.
• Proven success in enterprise software sales with a strong track record of acquiring new ("greenfield") enterprise customers.
• Experience selling complex enterprise software and technology solutions to large organizations.
• Strong understanding of enterprise IT environments and digital transformation initiatives.
• Ability to engage both business and technical stakeholders at executive level.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Highly self-motivated, resilient, and results-oriented.
• Naturally curious with a passion for exploring new markets, industries, and opportunities.
• Comfortable working independently while contributing as a collaborative team member.

Preferred Experience

• Enterprise application modernization
• Mainframe modernization
• Legacy application transformation
• Integration and middleware platforms
• API Management
• Hybrid integration
• AI-enabled enterprise transformation
• Data integration
• Cloud modernization
• Business-level understanding of enterprise technologies such as:
  • Adabas & Natural COBOL environments
  • IBM Mainframe (z/OS) ecosystems
  • Enterprise middleware
  • Mission-critical business applications
• Experience selling modernization solutions into organizations running these environments is a significant advantage.

Languages

• Mandatory Native or fluent French
• Fluent English (written and spoken), as Software AG is a global organization requiring close collaboration with international teams and customers.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about winning new business and creating opportunities.
• A natural hunter who enjoys opening doors and acquiring new-name customers.
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and highly self-motivated.
• Curious and eager to learn about new industries, technologies, and customer challenges.
• Able to balance the persistence, independence, and determination of a "lone wolf" with the collaboration and trust of a strong team player.
• Resilient and comfortable navigating long and complex enterprise sales cycles.
• Customer-focused and business-oriented rather than product-oriented.
• Competitive, accountable, and driven to exceed ambitious goals.
• Excited by innovation and motivated to help customers leverage AI as part of their modernization journey.