My Career Story - André DeRussy

 "Looking back, it all makes sense. But like everyone, I’ve taken risks, made pivots, and figured things out one step at a time." – André DeRussy, Founder of The DeRussy Group

I have spent my career helping companies grow.

• Sales operator and leader

• GTM architect across early and growth-stage companies

• Builder of national and regional sales organizations

• Now founder of an executive search firm placing sales leaders

I’ve scaled revenue at recognizable tech brands over the last two decades.

• Built and led sales teams at Yahoo!, Pandora, Nextdoor, WeWork, and RentSpree

• Drove double- and triple-digit revenue growth across roles at Pandora, WeWork, and RentSpree

• Managed teams of over 100, generated 9-figure pipelines, and delivered $100M+ in annual revenue

• Built sales and client success orgs from the ground up

• Led teams through IPOs, acquisitions, layoffs, turnarounds, and hyper-growth

And I’ve reinvented my career more than once.

• Pivoted from adtech to proptech

• Shifted from revenue leader to executive recruiter

• Took a risk and launched The DeRussy Group to help founders avoid costly hiring mistakes

• Joined Whispered as GM (Sales) to help executive candidates find roles the public never sees

Through it all, I’ve learned:

• That hiring the right revenue leader is one of the hardest things a founder will ever do

• That most executives are burned out on applying to jobs that don’t really exist

• That quiet, behind-the-scenes career moves are often the most impactful

• That the best outcomes come from real alignment - on stage, scope, and values

Now, my mission is clear: To help sales and GTM leaders grow into their next chapter, and to help startups make smart, high-impact leadership hires that drive lasting growth.