CRO Report: Exec Hiring Surges 15%, Redpanda's $1B AI Infrastructure Bet, and Forrester's Turnaround
Sales exec hiring surges 15% to 118 roles, Expel's CRO joins Redpanda, and why Forrester's CSO search signals trouble
📊 The Sales Executive Market
90-Day Snapshot
118 active roles — up 15% from last week’s 103. The largest single-week increase we’ve tracked in 2025.
5-Year Context
Still 27% below the 2022 peak. But this is the first real sign of life in months.
The catch: only 5 roles (4.2%) are at tech companies. Mesa Moving (7 roles), Centene (7 roles), and DFCU Financial (3 roles) are driving volume. When logistics and healthcare lead executive sales hiring over tech, that’s either broader economic confidence or tech still licking its wounds.
What This Means
What This Means
Employed leaders: Q4 openings mean budget certainty. Companies hiring now aren’t window shopping.
Job seekers: 15% more options overnight. Don’t wait for January.
Hiring companies: 118 open roles means candidates have choices. Move fast or lose them.
Signal to watch: 118+ sustaining through December = genuine recovery. Drop to 103-105 = seasonal noise.
🚀 Who’s Moving
Jennifer Lawrence → Redpanda as Chief Revenue Officer
Previously: CRO at Expel; Global VP of Sales at Duo Security/Cisco
🎯 Company Deep-Dive
Forrester is hiring a Chief Sales Officer
Iconic research firm ($395M revenue, Nasdaq: FORR) — but stock down 60% from highs, revenue declining 7%, and an “interim” CSO after Nate Swan’s departure signals urgency masking deeper challenges.
💼 This Week’s Board Update
118 roles across 96 companies. 100 VP-level (85%), 10 C-level (8%). C-level openings doubled from last week — companies investing in top-of-house leadership for 2026.
54% now disclose salary (up from 48%). Average disclosed range: $186K-$270K base.
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