Scaling your ambition
At Next Ascent, we are your expert advisors in elevating sales performance and execution. We equip you with the tools, frameworks, and strategies to accelerate, ascend, and achieve. With a proven track record and measurable ROI at every step, we are ready to support your next ascent.
Our vision
To be your trusted partner that helps unlock your full growth potential.
Our mission
Design and execute proven growth strategies that elevates sales performance and drives sustainable success.
About us
James Neilson - Founder & CEO
20+ years of sales and leadership experiences from ServiceNow, Gartner, Palo Alto Networks, Compuware and start-ups.
$368,429,000 new business revenues delivered.
A unique advisory perspective who speaks both languages - vendor and buyer!
James has sat on both sides of the table from fast growing SaaS vendors like ServiceNow, to the largest Cyber Security vendor in the world Palo Alto Networks. On the other side, he’s mastered Gartner’s buyer psychology, working with CXO’s on their requirements across the technology industry and how they want to buy.
Now he helps organisations transform to enterprise-ready revenue machines:
Real Enterprise Experience - he has both led teams and personally closed multi-million-pound deals at the C-level, not just taught the theory. Over $368M in enterprise deals sold!
Buyer-Side Intelligence - his Gartner background means he understands how enterprise buyers and CXO’s actually evaluate and purchase technology as well as teaching him the world class sales skills needed to operate consistently at the C-level.
Proven Methodology to Scale Enterprise Sales - he has grown an Enterprise SaaS business from $100M ARR to $216M in 3 years and built out a Global Accounts Strategy for the world’s largest Cyber Security company. He has clarity on what enterprise-ready looks like and how to best deliver for Global customers
Verticalisation & Industry Relevance – he has built industry teams from Financial Services, Manufacturing, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Retail, Transportation, Professional Services enabling teams to speak the language of their customers and increasing his teams relevance while connecting C-level executives within these industries.
James has a unique perspective on world class sales execution and high performing sales teams, with all the tools and frameworks to support this.
Increased Sales Rep Productivity
Increase Sales
Shorter Deal Cycle Time
Higher New Logo Acquisition
Higher NPS
Increased Win Rates
Customer Retention
Bigger Deal Sizes
Our experience
Our CEO, James has been leading Enterprise Sales Teams for the last decade in some of the highest performing technology businesses in the world. He has consistently built high performing teams wherever he has landed and delivered record breaking growth in all his leadership roles. See below to view some of his work and testimonials where he has helped close in excess of $368M in Enterprise Sales.
Doubling the business in three years
As Area Vice President at ServiceNow for the last three years, James fully verticalised the UK Enterprise Sales team, which is now made up of Manufacturing, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Retail, Hospitality, Transportation and Logistics, Business Services and Media. He grew this business from $102M ARR to $216M in 3 and a half years. Employee engagement for his region also improved from 72% when he joined to 92%
Winner of the Presidents Club Award.
“James thinks in the mind of the customer and helped us shape our vertical strategy. He elevated our executive engagements by articulating business value and drove significant growth of the Enterprise business.
Getting all 4 of his teams over plan showed brilliant performance and how he consistently inspires teams to execute.” Jordi Ferrer, UKI Country Manager, GVP at ServiceNow
$166m new business in 12 months
Creating and leading a new Global Accounts business for the world’s largest Cyber security organisation - Palo Alto Networks. $166M Total New Business and 138% of Plan achieved in 18 months. The business was set up for continued success through elevated C-level access which increased by 67% during this period.
“James helped us set-up a new Global Accounts Programme for our largest customers. In that time he helped build the Global operating model and team, elevated our Executive position across these accounts while delivering impressive growth results.”
Simon Turner, Regional Vice President, Western Europe at Palo Alto Networks
80% President’s Club in five years
Five years in leadership at CXO advisory giant Gartner where he was Regional Vice President of Financial Services achieving President’s club in 4 out of 5 years. He achieved an average annual revenue growth rate of 17% per year during his tenure with record breaking retention rates.
2 x European Top Achiever Awards.
In addition, he also built out Industry events and summits to help connect UK Financial Services technology executives.
“James is a brilliant and clever leader ... he has got a great understanding of the FS market and he is always using analytics to improve the quality of business decisions. He was able to inspire his team and help elevate our C-level engagements across the FS industry. He really cares about his people and he is always ready to innovate ... definitely a fast paced leader.”
Emanuele Oliveri del Castillo, GVP UKI, Italy & Iberia at Gartner
Best young sales professional finalist
14 new logos acquired in his first two years of sales with an unknown industry brand.
Unlock the art and science of high performing sales for your business.
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
Mark Twain
Get in touch
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