KAM and Account Executive Recruitment Agency
Licorne Society advises and supports you as you hire your KAM, AM and AE teams.
5/5 · 206 Google reviews More than 200 startups, scale-ups and companies have hired their Account team with Licorne Society.
Testimonials
They trusted the Licorne Society team with their hiring
We worked with Licorne Society to hire a salesperson: candidates who matched the criteria we set out, and flawless follow-up (regular check-ins, collecting feedback).
Licorne Society helped us recruit our first salesperson. André and Elina understood our company culture and had a very clear picture of the kind of candidates we were looking for. Licorne Society saved us valuable time and widened our search to people we wouldn't necessarily have targeted, who turned out to be really strong. Our new hire has settled into the team brilliantly!
We worked with Licorne Society to hire for Sales and Account Executive roles. They put forward very strong candidates, and the team was highly responsive.
Our Account profiles to meet your company's growth challenges.
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Customer Success Manager (CSM)
- 3 to 5 years' experience in CSM roles.
- Expert in customer satisfaction.
- Supports customers through onboarding.
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Head of Account Management
- Around 10 years' experience in Sales and account management.
- Has managed Account Manager and KAM teams of 5 to 15 people.
- International experience.
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Key Accounts KAM
- 5 to 10 years' Account Management experience
- Manages large CAC 40-type accounts
- Renewal portfolio worth several million euros
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Mid-Market Account Executive
- 3 to 5 years' sales and closing experience.
- Short to medium sales cycle (1 to 4 months).
- Target customers: mainly SMEs.
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Mid-Market Account Manager
- Experience as an account manager.
- Manages a large portfolio of SME accounts.
- Responsible for renewals, cross-sell and upsell.
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Key Accounts Account Executive
- 5 years' experience in international sales.
- Manages long sales cycles, from 6 months to 2 years.
- International clients: key accounts, CAC 40 companies.
Our Account Manager and Account Executive recruitment expert
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André Farah
- COO and co-founder of Licorne Society, expert in startup and scale-up recruitment 🦄
- Former Operations Strategy, Management and Supply Chain Consultant at consulting firm Argon & Co
- Expert in recruiting and structuring sales teams
Our specialist recruitment consultants help clients structure their Sales and Account teams. You get tailored support to hire candidates across France (Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux...) and the rest of Europe.
Recruiting a Key Account Manager
Recruiting Account Managers and AEs is a major challenge for companies.
Closing new deals and retaining existing accounts are major priorities for companies and startups alike. Hiring Account Executives, Account Managers and CSMs is key to growth.
A good Key Account Manager in SaaS or at a scale-up stands out less for their address book than for their ability to drive retention and expansion across their portfolio: keeping churn under control, growing revenue from existing accounts (upsell, cross-sell) and managing multi-stakeholder decision cycles, from the operational champion to the executive sponsor. This is the combination we assess in every interview.
What we do
quickly find the best candidates on the market for every Account Manager role.
The roles we recruit for: Account Manager (AM), Key Account Manager (KAM), Account Executive (AE)
We also help our clients build their sales leadership, with Head of Sales recruitment and Head of Account Management hires.
A 3.0 recruitment agency specialising in Account Manager and Account Executive roles
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A community of KAM profiles
Licorne Society has more than 4,500 active job seekers registered on its platform.
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Deep expertise in the KAM role
For every brief, our team finds, approaches and screens the right candidates from among the best talent in the ecosystem.
- 03
A unique sourcing technology
100% tailored to each role and to your target, combining artificial intelligence and automation.
How our AM / AE recruitment service works
- 1
Scoping your needs
We (really) take the time to understand.
- 2
Targeted sourcing
We quickly tap into our network of more than 50,000 professionals, and approach directly the candidates who are not in it yet.
- 3
Screening the best candidates
We take the time to call every relevant candidate to understand their background and aspirations.
- 4
Shortlist within a few days
You receive a list of qualified candidates who are available and interested.
How do you assess KAM and AE skills in an interview?
Assessing a KAM or an Account Executive means measuring their experience against your sales context. The key points:
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Check the type of sales and customers they have managed
it should be similar to your company's context.
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Look at the context before the sector
the candidate does not necessarily need to have worked in your sector, but ideally they will have handled sales cycles, account sizes and stakeholders similar to those they would manage at your company.
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Dig into performance during the interview
reference checks are essential here to confirm that the candidate hit, or even beat, their targets.
Resources & related pages
Further reading on KAM and AE recruitment
See the job profiles for related roles (in French), such as Customer Success Manager or Head of Sales.
Looking to strengthen your Sales teams? See our Sales Recruitment Agency page.
For more on these roles, read our article on the differences between Account Manager, Account Executive and CSM (in French).
Are you a candidate looking for one of these roles? You'll find all our permanent job openings in France (Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, remote...) on the Licorne Society recruitment platform.
Ready to hire your Key Account Managers?
Frequently asked questions about KAM and Account Executive recruitment
01 How long does it take to recruit a Key Account Manager?
How long does it take to recruit a Key Account Manager?
As a rule, allow a few days to receive a first shortlist of qualified, available candidates, then two to four weeks to complete interviews and make the hire, depending on your decision-making process.
02 How do you hire a good Key Account Manager?
How do you hire a good Key Account Manager?
Beyond the CV, check that the candidate has managed accounts of a size and complexity comparable to yours, with similar sales cycles and stakeholders. Reference checks are essential to confirm that retention and expansion targets were met.
03 Where can you find Key Account Manager candidates?
Where can you find Key Account Manager candidates?
Most of the best candidates are not actively looking. We identify and approach them directly through our talent network of more than 50,000 professionals, on top of the candidates registered on the platform.
04 What is the difference between a KAM and an Account Executive?
What is the difference between a KAM and an Account Executive?
The Account Executive focuses on signing new contracts (closing), while the Key Account Manager manages and grows accounts that are already signed (retention, upsell, cross-sell). Many scale-ups hire for both roles in parallel.
05 What is a Key Account Manager's salary?
What is a Key Account Manager's salary?
The ranges below reflect the packages (fixed + variable) seen on the market in 2026.
The Account Manager (in French) takes over once a contract is signed. Their main job is to retain the client and grow the relationship through renewals, upsell and cross-sell. In Paris, a junior (0 to 2 years) earns a package of €45,000 to €60,000. With 3 to 5 years' experience, pay ranges from €60,000 to €65,000 in Paris and from €54,000 to €59,000 elsewhere in France. With 6+ years' experience, it exceeds €65,000 in Paris.
06 What is an Account Executive's salary?
What is an Account Executive's salary?
The ranges below reflect the packages (fixed + variable) seen on the market in 2026.
The Account Executive (in French), by contrast, focuses on closing contracts. Depending on the company, they may cover the full sales cycle, but they are first and foremost closers. In Paris, a junior (0 to 2 years) earns €40,000 to €45,000, compared with €36,000 to €40,000 elsewhere in France. With 3 to 5 years' experience, pay rises to €70,000 to €75,000 in Paris and €55,000 to €68,000 elsewhere. Finally, an experienced AE (6+ years) earns over €100,000 in Paris and close to €90,000 elsewhere in France, particularly in tech and digital.
Find out more on our salesperson salaries page (in French).
07 What variable pay should you plan for a KAM or an AE?
What variable pay should you plan for a KAM or an AE?
The variable part most often represents 20 to 40% of the total package: tied to closing targets for an Account Executive, and to account renewal and expansion for a Key Account Manager. To build a commission plan, see our guide on variable pay for salespeople (in French).
Our specialities
A specialist recruiter for every need
Executive Search
We help companies find and hire senior executives and C-level leaders.
Learn more Tech & DataTech recruitment
Hire people with strong technical expertise in software development and data, in a highly competitive market.
Learn more Sales & MarketingSales & Marketing recruitment
We help companies structure their Marketing and Sales teams so they can drive the growth of the business.
Learn more OperationsOperations & Finance recruitment
Hire the people who will run and optimise your operations and processes.
Learn moreOur scope
Other roles covered by our services
Our locations
We recruit across the major French tech and digital ecosystems, and support your growth across Europe.