CRO Report: Exec Hiring Surges 44%, OpenAI Poaches Slack CEO, and Thomson Reuters' $585K AI Bet
Sales exec hiring jumps to 135 roles, biggest weekly surge of 2025, OpenAI hires Slack CEO Denise Dresser as CRO, and why Thomson Reuters is paying top dollar for AI sales leadership
📊 The Sales Executive Market
90-Day Snapshot
135 active roles, up 44% from last week’s 94. The single largest weekly increase we’ve tracked in 2025.
We clearly blew past last week’s cliff. After falling 20% to 94 openings just days ago, the market surged to 135 roles. The 90-day chart tells the story: months of flat-lining around 108, a brief spike to 118 in late November, a sharp drop to 94, and now this dramatic rebound.
5-Year Context
135 openings, 17% below 2022 peak of 162. A significant recovery, while still well short of all-time highs.
The trajectory since mid-2022 has been relentless contraction. From 162 peak openings down to the 107-112 range that defined most of 2025. This week’s surge breaks the recent pattern of stagnation. We’ll see over time if this is a genuine recovery.
What This Means
Employed leaders: The window is opening. After 18 months of stagnation, this is the first real sign of life. Start conversations now while companies are in hiring mode.
Job seekers: More openings means more interviews, but also faster timelines. If you’re in active discussions, expect hiring managers to move quickly.
Hiring companies: The leverage you had at 94 openings evaporated overnight. Close fast on strong candidates before they see their options multiply.
Signal to watch: Hold above 120 through mid-January = genuine inflection point. Drop back below 100 = seasonal noise.
🚀 Who’s Moving
Denise Dresser → OpenAI as Chief Revenue Officer
Previously: CEO at Slack (2023-2025); President of Accelerated Industries Sales at Salesforce
🎯 Company Deep-Dive
Thomson Reuters is hiring Vice President, Sales | $315K-$585K base | Frisco, TX | Reports to: Sales Leadership
$7.4B revenue legal and tax information giant, 9% organic growth in core “Big 3” segments, CoCounsel AI driving Westlaw momentum, but 62% net income decline in Q2 2025 and cost management pressures warrant scrutiny.
Exceptional compensation at the top 1% of disclosed VP Sales roles. The question is whether their AI-driven transformation creates genuine upside or masks structural challenges.
💼 This Week’s Board Update
135 active roles across 87 companies. 86% VP-level, 8% SVP-level, 6% C-Level.
Top title variations: 11 roles at “VP of Sales”, 7 at “Vice President, Regional Sales”, 6 at “Vice President, Sales (Level-Funded & ICHRA).”
64.6% salary transparency. Remote roles lead with 27 postings; Boston (8), New York (7), and Atlanta (5) round out top markets.
Notable patterns: Healthcare benefits and regional territory roles dominate this week’s postings. Financial services, healthcare, and logistics driving majority of volume. Tech sector remains conspicuously quiet at just 2% of postings.
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