Kusal De Silva
Chief Revenue Officer at Planhat- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Leor Distenfeld
I have been working indirectly with Kusal for about eight years and have had the pleasure of working on the same team with him for the last three. Kusal is an excellent sales person, a strong coach and leader and a strategic thinker both in people matters and in business matters. He is always solution oriented and focused on getting the best results. He quickly builds trust with clients and colleagues and is very dedicated to the projects he works on. He sees projects through from start to finish with a high level of quality and attention to detail. Kusal is also a pleasure to work with and brings an important element to our team dynamic which I am very grateful for.
Jenny Gale Howe
When I used to run highly selective recruitment sessions for my office in New York, it's funny how I always referred to Kusal de Silva's characteristics and personality when I was describing the caliber of person I was looking for. I would literally describe Kusal as a: "Well traveled, highly intelligent, motorcycle riding, professional ballroom dancer." And this is no stretch of the truth! Kusal is one of those unique individuals that recruiters hope and pray to find, but rarely do. He was my right hand man, aiding me in all aspects of opening a new office in Manhattan, which was no small task! He had his hands in everything from wiring the office space, successfully selling the product and managing the sales force as one of my top performing Sales Managers in the Meltwater News, New Business division. I always knew that I could count on Kusal for results, enthusiasm, and a good laugh ... not to mention, a phenomenal meal. (His cooking skills are equally amazing! :) I feel honored to have had the chance to work with Kusal in a professional setting, and lucky to be able to call him a good friend.
Leor Distenfeld
I have been working indirectly with Kusal for about eight years and have had the pleasure of working on the same team with him for the last three. Kusal is an excellent sales person, a strong coach and leader and a strategic thinker both in people matters and in business matters. He is always solution oriented and focused on getting the best results. He quickly builds trust with clients and colleagues and is very dedicated to the projects he works on. He sees projects through from start to finish with a high level of quality and attention to detail. Kusal is also a pleasure to work with and brings an important element to our team dynamic which I am very grateful for.
Jenny Gale Howe
When I used to run highly selective recruitment sessions for my office in New York, it's funny how I always referred to Kusal de Silva's characteristics and personality when I was describing the caliber of person I was looking for. I would literally describe Kusal as a: "Well traveled, highly intelligent, motorcycle riding, professional ballroom dancer." And this is no stretch of the truth! Kusal is one of those unique individuals that recruiters hope and pray to find, but rarely do. He was my right hand man, aiding me in all aspects of opening a new office in Manhattan, which was no small task! He had his hands in everything from wiring the office space, successfully selling the product and managing the sales force as one of my top performing Sales Managers in the Meltwater News, New Business division. I always knew that I could count on Kusal for results, enthusiasm, and a good laugh ... not to mention, a phenomenal meal. (His cooking skills are equally amazing! :) I feel honored to have had the chance to work with Kusal in a professional setting, and lucky to be able to call him a good friend.
Leor Distenfeld
I have been working indirectly with Kusal for about eight years and have had the pleasure of working on the same team with him for the last three. Kusal is an excellent sales person, a strong coach and leader and a strategic thinker both in people matters and in business matters. He is always solution oriented and focused on getting the best results. He quickly builds trust with clients and colleagues and is very dedicated to the projects he works on. He sees projects through from start to finish with a high level of quality and attention to detail. Kusal is also a pleasure to work with and brings an important element to our team dynamic which I am very grateful for.
Jenny Gale Howe
When I used to run highly selective recruitment sessions for my office in New York, it's funny how I always referred to Kusal de Silva's characteristics and personality when I was describing the caliber of person I was looking for. I would literally describe Kusal as a: "Well traveled, highly intelligent, motorcycle riding, professional ballroom dancer." And this is no stretch of the truth! Kusal is one of those unique individuals that recruiters hope and pray to find, but rarely do. He was my right hand man, aiding me in all aspects of opening a new office in Manhattan, which was no small task! He had his hands in everything from wiring the office space, successfully selling the product and managing the sales force as one of my top performing Sales Managers in the Meltwater News, New Business division. I always knew that I could count on Kusal for results, enthusiasm, and a good laugh ... not to mention, a phenomenal meal. (His cooking skills are equally amazing! :) I feel honored to have had the chance to work with Kusal in a professional setting, and lucky to be able to call him a good friend.
Leor Distenfeld
I have been working indirectly with Kusal for about eight years and have had the pleasure of working on the same team with him for the last three. Kusal is an excellent sales person, a strong coach and leader and a strategic thinker both in people matters and in business matters. He is always solution oriented and focused on getting the best results. He quickly builds trust with clients and colleagues and is very dedicated to the projects he works on. He sees projects through from start to finish with a high level of quality and attention to detail. Kusal is also a pleasure to work with and brings an important element to our team dynamic which I am very grateful for.
Jenny Gale Howe
When I used to run highly selective recruitment sessions for my office in New York, it's funny how I always referred to Kusal de Silva's characteristics and personality when I was describing the caliber of person I was looking for. I would literally describe Kusal as a: "Well traveled, highly intelligent, motorcycle riding, professional ballroom dancer." And this is no stretch of the truth! Kusal is one of those unique individuals that recruiters hope and pray to find, but rarely do. He was my right hand man, aiding me in all aspects of opening a new office in Manhattan, which was no small task! He had his hands in everything from wiring the office space, successfully selling the product and managing the sales force as one of my top performing Sales Managers in the Meltwater News, New Business division. I always knew that I could count on Kusal for results, enthusiasm, and a good laugh ... not to mention, a phenomenal meal. (His cooking skills are equally amazing! :) I feel honored to have had the chance to work with Kusal in a professional setting, and lucky to be able to call him a good friend.
Experience
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Planhat
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Sweden
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Software Development
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100 - 200 Employee
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Chief Revenue Officer
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Sep 2021 - Present
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Meltwater
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United States
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Technology, Information and Internet
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700 & Above Employee
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Vice President - Enterprise Americas
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Oct 2020 - May 2021
Created the following results in my current position, Majority of which was achieved in a period of 30 months - • Designed and developed a values driven organization focused on output of the highest quality in the industry. • Generated frameworks for innovation within offerings, operating structures and client experience. • Created organic growth that took a 3.4mUSD ARR Enterprise business to 30+mUSD ARR within 36 months. • Linear reduction of Annual Gross Churn from 35%… Show more Created the following results in my current position, Majority of which was achieved in a period of 30 months - • Designed and developed a values driven organization focused on output of the highest quality in the industry. • Generated frameworks for innovation within offerings, operating structures and client experience. • Created organic growth that took a 3.4mUSD ARR Enterprise business to 30+mUSD ARR within 36 months. • Linear reduction of Annual Gross Churn from 35% (2017) to 10% (2021). • Improved Net Churn from 75%(2017) to 97%(2018) 105.5% (2019) in a high natural churn segment. • Created over 100% in client acquisition growth for 2 consecutive years. • Exceeded every annual client acquisition and retention target. • Doubled the annual sales per person in Client Acquisition within 24 months. • Maintained a score range of 50-76 on the rule of 40 for our business unit. • Oversaw multiple record breaking deals including the largest-to-date within the company. • 97% retention of employees(primarily senior sales and client success professionals) of the group within my leadership.
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Area Director - Americas - Enterprise Solutions
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Apr 2018 - Oct 2020
Head of the Enterprise Division for the Americas region for Meltwater overseeing the client acquisition and success of the most valued, top-tier clients and opportunities for the company. Responsibilities include : • Management and development of a senior team (6-10 years of average Meltwater experience) of sales and client success professionals/teams across the Americas. • Design and development of meltwater's enterprise offering • Strategic planning and execution of top-tier… Show more Head of the Enterprise Division for the Americas region for Meltwater overseeing the client acquisition and success of the most valued, top-tier clients and opportunities for the company. Responsibilities include : • Management and development of a senior team (6-10 years of average Meltwater experience) of sales and client success professionals/teams across the Americas. • Design and development of meltwater's enterprise offering • Strategic planning and execution of top-tier client experience • Responsible for top-line annualized growth and overall profit and loss of the Enterprise Division
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Director of Enterprise Sales
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Feb 2014 - Mar 2018
Responsible for client acquisition and execution of global business insight systems for Meltwater's Enterprise Clients. I currently oversee Meltwater’s largest global client acquisitions/ implementations and manage/coordinate global teams consisting of: • Strategic Account Executives • Senior Account Managers • Social Media Consultants • Data Analysts • Delivery Managers • Tech Support • Product Development Additionally, I vet technology partners for… Show more Responsible for client acquisition and execution of global business insight systems for Meltwater's Enterprise Clients. I currently oversee Meltwater’s largest global client acquisitions/ implementations and manage/coordinate global teams consisting of: • Strategic Account Executives • Senior Account Managers • Social Media Consultants • Data Analysts • Delivery Managers • Tech Support • Product Development Additionally, I vet technology partners for customized frameworks for our clients, providing streamlined consolidated technology solutions globally. In this role, I have taken initiative in creating new pragmatic forms of problem solving for Meltwater, developing new proprietary metrics, methodologies and models for significant data-driven insights to Meltwater's portfolio of Enterprise Clients. Enterprise Client Acquisition Performance (%/Target) : 2014 : 150% 2015 : 184% 2016 : 124% 2017 : 128%
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Client Intelligence Director - Global
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Jul 2013 - Jul 2014
Responsible for creating, implementing, analyzing and revamping both internal and external initiatives/strategies that aim to create efficiencies and enhance the quality of account management globally
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Area Director , North America - East
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Mar 2012 - Jun 2013
Head of our Client Success Operations for the U.S East and Canada. In charge of our overall strategy to develop, retain, and maximize the relationship with all of our clients in U.S East Coast and Canada. The client success division is responsible for the implementation of our solutions, alignment of our services and systems with our client needs as well as sales and renewal of client accounts. Furthermore, I am responsible for the hiring, managing, promotion and development of all employees in… Show more Head of our Client Success Operations for the U.S East and Canada. In charge of our overall strategy to develop, retain, and maximize the relationship with all of our clients in U.S East Coast and Canada. The client success division is responsible for the implementation of our solutions, alignment of our services and systems with our client needs as well as sales and renewal of client accounts. Furthermore, I am responsible for the hiring, managing, promotion and development of all employees in our operations.
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Director | Business Development | North America
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Sep 2011 - Apr 2012
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Managing Director | Strategic Accounts Division | New York
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Oct 2010 - Mar 2012
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Key Account Manager | Strategic Accounts Division
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Dec 2009 - Oct 2010
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Sales Manager
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Dec 2008 - Dec 2009
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B2B Sales Consultant
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May 2008 - Dec 2008
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Co-Founder
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Jan 2004 - Dec 2007
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Citi
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United States
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Financial Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Corporate & Investment Banking
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2007 - 2007
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Education
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2017 - 2018
University of Oxford - Said Business School
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2004 - 2008
Cornell University
BSc in Applied Economics & Management
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