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Sales Recruitment

From benchmarking and job specifications, presentation briefs, offer management, and even support during their first year, we’ve got you covered.

Sales recruitment by ex-sales professionals

Sales recruitment is one of our four main disciplines.

Before becoming sales recruiters, we spent over 10 years working in commercial roles ourselves, and that experience means we truly understand your recruitment needs and we know what it takes to make a successful sales hire.

We’re perfectly placed to support you through every stage of the hiring journey – whether you’re a senior sales leader, general manager, HR Specialist or Managing Director looking to secure a hire that will drive the future growth of your business… we can help. From benchmarking and job specifications, presentation briefs, offer management, and even support during their first year, we’ve got you covered.

Sales is a highly commercial recruitment category, and every role is unique. Success requires more than just matching CVs to job descriptions; it demands insight, experience, and a clear understanding of the specific industry sales process and varying duties depending on the level of the role. Be assured, whether you seek a Sales Executive, Sales Manager or Sales Director, we have proven recruitment strategies to ensure you the best shortlist, whatever the level. 

We’ve highlighted some of the common specialist areas of sales recruitment we support, but if you’ve read enough and are ready for a confidential, no-obligation chat, you can get in touch using the contact buttons below. We aim to respond to all sales recruitment enquiries within one hour.

Targeted ongoing support

We track top candidates and alert you when they’re ready to move, keeping you ahead.

Full LinkedIn access

Our retained approach gives us premium LinkedIn access to reach any professional worldwide.

Over 100 5-star reviews

We're rated 5/5 with over 100 reviews from happy companies and candidates on Google.

Retained results, contingency cost

Tell us who you want — we’ll actively find them, not wait for applications.

Get started today

Our focus is simple - to source outstanding commercial talent that drives growth, strengthens relationships and supports the long-term profitability of your business.

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Testimonials

We’re proud of our strong reputation and proven success in sales and business development recruitment.

Using a proactive, multi-channel approach, we find exceptional candidates who help your business thrive.

Rated 5 stars on Google
  • Google
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    "Absolutely brilliant experience with Joby who initially contacted me about a role I’d applied for. The whole process was supportive, encouraging and he gave me the confidence to really go for it with my application, interview and second interview presentation. I was offered the role which I accepted and am really enjoying getting my teeth stuck into an exciting part-time role I didn’t think would exist, plus I’m surrounded by a great team of people in a lovely location. Could not recommend Joby and his team highly enough!"
  • Google
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    "From our very first conversation Joby was so kind and helpful. He supported me through every interview stage with practical honest advice, timely feedback and encouragement. Thanks to Joby and the team at Zero Surplus I landed a role that’s the perfect fit for me and that I’m genuinely excited about. I honestly can’t thank them enough."
  • Google
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    "My experience with this company has been excellent! Chris was very professional, attentive, and always quick to communicate. The recruitment process was smooth, transparent, and well organized, and his support made the transition much easier. I highly recommend them!"
  • Google
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    "Great recruiter. Fast and informative. Fully recommend to young professionals looking for work. Chris helped me through the process from start to finish, provided useful updates, and acted as a great middleman between myself and my new employer, including help with interview/presentation prep."
  • Google
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    "I had a fantastic experience working with Chris Jacobs. He discovered my CV on CV Library and reached out with a role that was a perfect match for my background. Chris supported me throughout the entire application and interview process, offering valuable guidance and tips along the way. I'm now in my second week at a new job and couldn’t be happier. Thank you, Chris!"
  • Google
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    "Chris is a fantastic recruiter. very knowledgeable, helped me throughout the whole process and was extremely reassuring from start to finish. I would highly recommend for businesses looking to fill roles and also to anyone looking to take the next step in their career, thank you again, Chris and the team!"

Executive Search FAQs

What is executive search for sales and commercial roles?

An executive search is a targeted recruitment process focused on senior-level appointments in Sales, Business Development, Account Management, and Customer Success. Unlike traditional recruitment, it involves proactive headhunting, market mapping, and direct engagement with passive candidates to ensure you hire the best talent available.

Which senior roles do you recruit for?

We specialise in senior commercial appointments, including:

  • Sales: Sales Director, Head of Sales, Regional Sales Director, National Sales Manager, Commercial Director
  • Business Development: Business Development Director, Head of Business Development, Strategic Partnerships Director, Enterprise BDM Lead
  • Account Management: Account Director, Head of Account Management, Key Account Director, Client Services Director
  • Customer Success: Customer Success Director, Head of Customer Success, Client Success Manager (Senior), Customer Success Operations Lead
Which industries do you cover?

We recruit across a broad range of sectors, including Technology, SaaS, Engineering, Industrial, FMCG, Retail, Professional Services, and more. Our deep market knowledge ensures we can identify leaders who will deliver measurable impact in your sector.

What makes Zero Surplus different from other executive search firms?**
  1. We specialise exclusively in Sales, Business Development, Account Management, and Customer Success, meaning we understand the nuances of these disciplines.
  2. We offer transparent retained fees
  3. Our network and technology allow us to reach candidates that other agencies cannot access.
  4. We provide generous replacement periods and ongoing support to ensure long-term success.
How long does an executive search take?

While timelines vary depending on role complexity, seniority, and market availability, most searches take between 6 to 12 weeks from initial briefing to offer acceptance. We provide regular updates throughout the process to keep your hiring team informed.

Can you recruit executive positions beyond the South of England?

Yes. Whilst we predominantly operate  across Cambridge, Oxford, Milton Keynes, London, Hertfordshire, Essex, and the wider South and East of England, we can support executive level roles across the UK and internationally.

How can I get started?

Simply get in touch via the contact buttons above to schedule a consultation. We’ll discuss your requirements, review the role and your business objectives, and outline how our executive search process can deliver the right senior commercial leader for your team.