Our Methodology

Accelent provides superior executive search and accelerated talent integration services to early and mature stage software, digital media and ecommerce companies. Our innovative AIM methodology enables new executives to create value immediately.

See The Difference

Our Clients

Role: Co-founder & CTO

Sector: Enterprise Software & SaaS

Investors: Canaan Partners

“Accelent is different than other executive search firms because they approach a hire the same way a business does -- not as a one-off event, but as the first step in a long relationship. The team focuses on defining long-term success in the role and so shows potential candidates a clear path to success in their new job. This translates to more, better candidates; the results are genuinely impressive.” – Ben Duranske, CEO, Beam Solutions

Role: SVP, Sales

Sector: Enterprise Software & SaaS

Stage: Expansion

Investors: Harmony Partners, Contour Venture Partners, Sigma Prime Ventures

Role: Chief Revenue Officer

Sector: Enterprise Software & SaaS

Stage: Early

Investors: Amazon, Ludlow Ventures, Venture51

Role: Chief Executive Officer

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Early

Investors: Canaan Ventures

Role: Chief Technology Officer

Sector: Enterprise Software & SaaS

Stage: Early

Investors: RRE Ventures, Greycroft Partners, ff Venture Capital

"PebblePost was at a critical juncture in the development of our technology and we needed a world class Mar-Tech CTO. We were under the gun, understaffed and experiencing hockey stick growth. I trusted John and his team to deliver as they did years earlier in my VC portfolio, and deliver they did; from sourcing, prepping to screening and interviewing for both culture and capabilities. The result just nailed it." - Lewis Gersh, CEO, Pebblepost

Role: Chief Technology Officer

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Expansion

Investors: Valhalla Partners, Blue Chip Venture Company, G20 Ventures

“John and the Accelent team are search professionals of the highest order. They created a terrific outcome for us for a vital C-level search, and the entire process could not have gone better. John's extensive network, combined with his expertise of our market, were ideally suited for our CTO search. Accelent’s thorough and innovative methodology allowed us to complete our assignment in record time with the right person for the role. We could not be more pleased with the outcome.” – Lon Otremba, CEO, Bidtellect

Role: Chief Executive Officer

Sector: eCommerce

Stage: Early

Investors: Canaan Partners, Battery Ventures

“I’ve worked with Accelent a number of times over the last several years, which is why I chose them for this challenging CEO search. As always, Accelent’s expertise and intense focus created an outstanding result. When one of my companies has a critical need, I trust Accelent to get the job done and done well.” - Dan Ciporin, General Partner, Canaan Parnters

Role: Chief Executive Officer

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Early

Investors: Betaworks, Gannett Co., White Star Capital, Greylock Partners, Highland Capital Partners, Omidyar Network, Residence Ventures

“Accelent’s team came in having a deep understanding of the media business and so were able to get to work immediately. Their approach to partnership was exceptional. CEO searches are always tricky, but Accelent’s disciplined process and insight into Digg's business produced a great outcome.” - Joshua Auerbach, Interim CEO, Digg & Venture Partner, Betaworks Studio, LLC

Role: VP, Research and Response

Role: Head of Toronto, R&D

Role: Head of Platform & Cloud Engineering

Sector: Cybersecurity

Stage: Expansion

Investors: Accel Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Bezos Expeditions

“The Accelent team earned our trust and helped us secure the right executive who added value on his first day on the job. Accelent invested the time to understand our business and our unique needs and provided extraordinary service. We would look forward to engaging Accelent again in the future.”

- Amit Gupta, VP, Engineering, Lookout, Inc.

Role: VP Marketing, Programmatic Marketing Companies

Role: VP, People Strategy and Operations

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Expansion

Investors: First Round, Venrock, Tribeca Venture Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures

"The Accelent team did a great job. They were thorough in getting to know us and our needs. The spec was a tough one, but they know the space and they were unrelenting in their pursuit of the right candidate. I also greatly appreciated their strong customer service orientation. They were always available when we needed them.”

- Casey Birtwell, AppNexus, SVP & GM, Advertiser Technology Group

Role: SVP, Human Resources

Role: Chief Marketing Officer

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Expansion

Investors: Atlas Venture, Pelion Venture Partners, August Capital

“Our experience working with Accelent was outstanding. They provided a great service and were very hands on and delivered timely results. Their process is comprehensive and we were able to identify exceptional candidates quickly. The service ultimately made our hiring decision much easier. As a result of their hard work, strong sense of urgency and professionalism, I would not hesitate to use Accelent again and to recommend them to others.” - Scott Knoll, CEO, Integral Ad Science

Role: Chief Executive Officer

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Early

Investors: Chernin Group

Role: Chief Technology Officer

Role: SVP, Product Management

Sector: eCommerce

Stage: Expansion

Investors: Canaan Partners, Tribeca Venture Partners, Thayer Street Partners

Role: SVP, Product

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Expansion

Investors: DFJ, Blue Chip Venture Company, Mercury Fund, RPM Ventures and T-Venture

“Our search posed the challenge of finding a transformational executive with domain expertise in social, advertising, and data. In addition, we had steep culture needs. Accelent worked hard to understand us and then worked even harder to find that needle in a haystack. They ran a sharp process and the result was great.” - Kurt Abrahamson, CEO

Role: VP of Online Marketing

Role: VP, Talent Acquisition

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Expansion

Investors: Bessemer Venture Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Jafco Ventures

“You guys did an extraordinary job for us. We needed qualified candidates immediately and you delivered. I wish all of our searches were done that well, that fast.” Court Cunningham, CEO, Yodle

Role: Head of Brand Partnership & Sales/SVP, Pregnancy and Parenting

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Mature Growth

Investors: NYSE: EVDY

“Accelent’s team understood our business and our market, ran a tight process, and delivered a great pool of candidates and an outstanding result. Only months into the job, our new head of sales is already making a significant and positive difference for the business.”

- Michael Rose, President Pregnancy & Parenting at Everyday Health

Role: SVP, Sales

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Early

Investors: Canaan Partners, FirstMark Capital, Lerer Ventures

"When making a key executive hire the right search partner is critical. We found Accelent to be the right one for us. They took the time to understand our business and our culture. Their methodology was highly efficient and effective. They were always available when we needed them. In the end, they delivered.” Rob Gabel, Chief Executive Officer

Role: VP, Media Product

Sector: Internet & Digital Media

Stage: Expansion

Investors: Thoma Bravo

Our Methodology

Our Clients

Rocketrip Appoints Sandeep Chand as Chief Technology Officer

PebblePost Raises $25 Million To Push Direct Mail Further Into Programmatic

Pieter de Zwart Joins Eyeota as Chief Technology Officer

Alabama college student walks almost 20 miles overnight to first day of work; CEO gives him his car

Co-Founder Spotlight: Andreas Bayer (CTO)