Professional XP

Brandon Kruse

Account Executive & Sales Leader | Cybersecurity, Cloud & AI GTM

Summary

Full-cycle technical seller with 10+ years of experience closing security, cloud, and API-first platform deals and exceeding quota at both PLG and sales-led companies. Skilled at multi-threading practitioners and executive buyers across engineering and security organizations, and becoming a trusted thought partner with customers. Most recently led Rapid7’s Commercial GTM team while running deals with CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, and engineering teams. Built AI into the team’s sales motion (account research, meeting prep, an SE bot, and pipeline reviews). Mechanical Engineering grad and daily user of frontier models and cloud agents. Experienced building and executing playbooks at early-stage startups and public companies. Ready to bring a high-agency motion and curious mindset back to an Enterprise AE role to help build at a high-growth security/AI infrastructure company.

Skills and Competencies

Technical Selling

  • Full-Cycle Ownership
  • Multi-Threading
  • Security, Engineering & C-suite Engagement
  • Problem & Workflow Mapping
  • POC/POV Project Management
  • Business Case Development
  • Legal & Procurement Negotiation
  • Deployment & Integration

Security, Cloud & AI

  • Security Platforms (MDR, CNAPP, SIEM, VRM, CTEM, SOAR)
  • Network & Application Security
  • Identity Security (IAM/PAM/ZTA/NHI)
  • Cloud Infrastructure
  • GenAI
  • Cloud Agents (Claude Code, OpenClaw, Grok Bot)
  • LLM Models, Harnesses & Gateways
  • MCP Servers

GTM Execution

  • Pipeline & Playbook Development
  • Land & Expansion
  • Territory & Account Planning
  • MEDDPICC
  • Cross-Functional Close (SE, Services, Product, Engineering, Legal)
  • Channel / VAR Co-Sell
  • Product & Marketing Feedback Loops
  • PLG & Sales-led motions
  • GTM tech: SFDC, Gong, Clari, Claude

Experience

Manager, Commercial Sales — Central · Rapid7

Austin, TX | Cybersecurity platform (MDR, SIEM, CNAPP, CTEM)

  • Owned a $20MM run-rate book with customers across FinServ, Healthcare, Tech, and Manufacturing, while also running multiple six-figure deal cycles directly with CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, security, cloud and infrastructure engineers.
  • Led the team to exceed quota and achieve President's Club recognition for outstanding performance.

2023 – Aug. 2026

Senior Account Executive, Mid-Market — TOLA/Southeast · BigCommerce (now Commerce)

Austin, TX | Headless, API-first commerce platform

  • 116% average attainment over four years: FY19 112%, FY20 127%, FY21 141%, FY22 87% on a $1.2MM quota.
  • Sold to CTOs, frontend and backend engineers, and SRE teams responsible for integrations, APIs, customizations, and site performance at mid-market and F1000 accounts.
  • Partnered with Solutions Engineers to run technical discovery, demos, POCs, and post-sales deployment calls.

2018 – 2023

Senior Manager, Enterprise Sales Development

  • Led the Enterprise SDR team to exceed quota; scaled headcount from 2 to 16 ICs + 2 managers, and promoted 6 team members in 18 months.
  • Restructured the team into Inbound, Outbound, and Account Development functions to optimize workflows and create a new talent pool.

Manager, Outbound Business — Enterprise, Large Enterprise & Strategic · Box, Inc.

Austin, TX | Cloud Content Management & Intelligence platform

  • Developed outbound playbook that led to 127% annual quota attainment supporting Enterprise, Large Enterprise, and Strategic accounts.
  • Engaged CIOs, CDOs, Enterprise Architects, Platform & Infrastructure Engineers to generate outbound, sales-sourced pipeline.

2016 – 2018

Commercial Account Executive & Sales Manager · uShip, Inc.

Austin, TX | Series B logistics platform

  • One of the first sales hires (employee #92); top-performing AE promoted to company’s first Sales Manager role.
  • Built the first B2B sales motion from $0 to $1MM with Engineering, Product, Marketing, and the executive team.

2012 – 2016

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering - University of South Florida

Tampa, FL

  • Self-funded education through part-time work and scholarships.