SAP
Sales Associate
+
300
SaaS teams
built
Bluebird Recruitment is a leading recruitment agency specialized in connecting talented professionals with thriving SaaS companies in Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, IT & Development.
A recruitment agency without recruiters? Yes! Our unique selling point is that everyone that works at Bluebird has worked at software companies themselves. Bluebird’s consultants have firsthand experience in the roles they recruit for. Our customers benefit from receiving high calibre people for their open positions within just a few working days. We raise the bar for the recruitment industry.

The beginning of Bluebird – Bluebird was founded by Machiel Kunst. Machiel spent 9 years at SolarWinds MSP playing a pivotal role in their growth from $6mio to $250mio ARR. He hired, trained and groomed the EMEA sales team consisting of 45 people. At FastSpring he hired a sales team of 15 people within a year and built the region from $0 to $3mio. He couldn’t consistently rely on recruitment agencies to deliver high caliber people fast enough and realized that it would require someone from the SaaS industry to set up a recruitment agency and run it in a modern fashion, together with other SaaS professionals. Bluebird initially focused on sales positions, from junior up to executive positions.
Bluebird growth journey – The unique selling point of former SaaS professionals filling roles they have firsthand experience in proved to work incredibly well. In 2021 the Bluebird team grew to 7 FTE and expanded with former Customer Success & Marketing professionals, expanding the value proposition from sales to any commercial position.
Market leader in Europe & US expansion – Two years in, Bluebird becomes the market leader for SaaS hiring in Europe and established a strong presence in East Coast US. Especially in key markets for SaaS, Germany, the UK & the Netherlands, Bluebird built a talent pool that’s second to none.
Expansion into IT & Dev – Bluebird attracts Dennis van Valderen, a top developer, to build out the IT & Dev department for Bluebird. Bluebird can now assist with any commercial or technical role.
Expansion into APAC – In line with Bluebird’s vision to help SaaS companies with all commercial and technical hiring across the world, Bluebird opens up an office in Sydney under leadership of James Bergl, a tenured VP Sales in the SaaS space.
Sales
Bluebird employs former SaaS sales professionals who can advise on structuring your sales teams and ensuring the hired candidate possesses the right skill set. Whether you’re looking to hire an Account Executive, a Sales Development Representative, or a Sales Leader, we’ve got you covered.
Marketing
We have former marketing leaders from SaaS scale-ups who can help you find your ideal marketing hire. Whether you need a Digital Marketing Manager, Content Marketing Specialist, or Demand Generation Expert, we offer tailored advice to enhance your marketing efforts and drive growth..
Customer Success
Bluebird has great expertise in Customer Success and has several former CSMs working as recruitment consultants and even former CSM leaders. Whether you’re looking for a CSM or CSM leadership, we’re here to help.
IT & Development
Hard to believe, but true: Bluebird has a handful of former Engineers doing recruitment for our customers. A massive Unique Selling Point. Whether you need a Software Engineer, a DevOps Specialist, a Sales Engineer or a Data Scientist, we have the necessary expertise.
Executive Search
We specialize in finding highly qualified leadership for SaaS companies, such as CEOs, CROs CTOs, CMOs and other leadership positions. Our team conducting the executive search have been in SaaS leadership themselves.
James graduated from uni in 2008 and joined SAP’s sales grad program. From there, he found his love for velocity solution sales in the IT channel with Autotask. He got transferred to Australia from the UK with N-able in 2013 and in 2015 had his career win in launching Datto as their founding AE in 2015. Within 6 years, they’d grown the business to $40m in turnover and 130 staff. Most recently, he helped to launch Pax8, a cloud distributor in APAC in 2022 and within 2 years they’d grown to 2000+ partners and 160 staff across APAC. In March 2024, he came on board with Bluebird as Managing Partner for APAC where he hopes to help other emerging SaaS vendors identify and hire top talent.
Sales Associate
2008
Account Executive
2010
Account Executive > RSM
2012
RVP
2020
VP Business Development
2022
Managing Partner APAC
2024
Driven, Competitive, Larger than life!
I graduated from uni in 2008 and joined SAP’s sales grad program. From there, I found my love for velocity solution sales in the IT channel with Autotask. I got transferred to Australia from the UK with N-able in 2013 and in 2015 had my career win in launching Datto as their founding AE. Within 6 years, we’d grown the business to $40m in turnover and 130 staff. Most recently, I helped to launch Pax8, a cloud distributor in APAC.
Machiel’s persistent charm.
My strength is people leadership and getting the most out of my team. I love the hustle of sales, I love disruption and I love being a part of high performing teams that win!
After building Datto, there were 4 sales team and a RSM that ran each one. Each RSM had grown from an individual contributor into the role. Today, all 4 of them have gone on to by head of sales, sales director and VP of sales at other scale-up SaaS companies – and they’ve all been incredibly successful.
When I got asked that when I first joined Bluebird, I didn’t have an authentic answer. 3 months in – and having interviewed 000’s of candidates, my value which is Bluebird’s value is that we have domain expertise in the field we’re hiring for. I find it ‘easy’ to identify the right SaaS sales talent for the right sort of organisation at the appropriate stage. It’s easy, because I have hired and built very similar sales teams multiple times over the past 10 years and know what is most likely to work. There are never guarantees in hiring, but if a hiring manager can lean on an expert in their field, why wouldn’t they?
Know your metrics and numbers, include them on your Linkedin and CV. If you have short stints or gaps, that’s OK – But come prepared to discuss why. Turn up with amazing energy. People won’t necessarily remember what you said, but they remember how you made them feel!
The excitement on a candidates face when they get their dream job & the excitement in hiring managers, when they get their dream employee! It’s such a good feeling.
I have 2 young kids under 3 that consume a lot of time, but I enjoy walking to the beach with Ziggy our Red Groodle – and I love cooking/BBQing/smoking meat. My favourite meal is a smoked, reverse seared rib-eye on the bone!
Chris spent 5 years with Datto. As the 4th hire in region, he played a pivotal role in Datto’s early growth as a top performer, surpassing quota year after year. In addition to this, he was responsible for coaching and enabling the new generation of starters who came through the ranks. At Planhat, Chris was the first AE in region, and was responsible for growing Planhat’s regional ARR from $0- $900k whilst growing the foundational team. Chris is resilient, patient and always searching for innovative ways to improve process and efficiency.
SDR > Account Executive > Channel Sales Manager
2016
Founding AE
2021
Recruitment Consultant
2024
Passionate, patient, caring, goofy, hungry.
Spent 5 years working as an ANZ founding member for a US business continuity provider, Datto as an SDR, AE and Channel Sales Manager. 3 years as a founding AE for Planhat, a modern customer success platform provider, building the foundational team, and growing market share in APAC.
I was placed by Bluebird founder Machiel, in my previous role with Planhat. During my tenure at Planhat, I kept my eyes on Machiels journey, and loved what he was doing for the SaaS community. Expecting nothing, 3 years later, my mentor James Bergl reached out to me with an opportunity to help him expand Bluebird into APAC. Believing I can add tremendous value to the community, and aid Machiel and James with expansion. I decided to take the leap, and have enjoyed every moment since.
Passion.
Buying my first property in Sydney, with my fiancee…or climbing MT Batur in Bali with Bali Belly. That was tough.
I choose to work with Bluebird for the phenomenal Leadership, and core principles that align with mine. The leadership team has a clear vision, shared through transparency, and integrity. Everyone is treated as an equal, and having fun is encouraged. You are made to feel like you are part of the journey, not watching from the sidelines. You are enabled, and when you speak, the entire team listens. Creating a feedback loop of growth.
Be super prepared. Understand the company’s value proposition, and the challenges they may be facing. Create a hypothesis as to how you can help them solve these challenges. This will set you apart from other candidates.
Helping our clients find top talent they may not have found otherwise, and helping top talent find that next step that will elevate their career.
I spend time with family, play football and soccer with friends, and try to read as much as I can. I also enjoy traveling to secluded places with my fiancee to zen out, and relax.
Scott thrives in dynamic, fast-paced roles, excelling in
customer-facing environments that demand adaptability and
creativity. Scott began working as a business development
executive for a global FMCG SaaS scale-up, Foods Connected. He
then transitioned into the Ag-Tech space as an account
executive for AgriWebb and took the opportunity to support a
partnering Climate Tech start-up in their early growth
journey, AgriProve.
Passionate about Ag-Tech and climate tech, Scott has worked
with some of Australia’s largest farmers, driving impactful
solutions. Currently focused on recruitment in technology and
SaaS, he leverages his strong relationship-building skills to
connect talent with opportunity. Guided by integrity and
empathy, he builds genuine, long-term relationships that
deliver meaningful results.
Business Development Executive
2020
SDR
2022
Account Executive
2022
Business Development Manager
2023
Recruitment Consultant
2024
Authentic, genuine, curious, tenacious, straightforward.
I began working as an Account Executive at an FMCG SaaS scale-up, Foods Connected. I moved into the Ag-Tech sector, starting off as an SDR and Account Executive at AgriWebb. I then took a role as the first BDM hire at a climate tech company named AgriProve, Australia’s first carbon project developer.
Upon meeting James and Chris and seeing their long-term relationship, I was convinced that joining Bluebird would be highly valuable and that I would be supported along the way.
Resilience and perseverance. For many reasons, agriculture is a difficult industry in which to grow a technology company. Having the battle scars from working in the ag-tech space, I’ve fostered resilience and perseverance in business development and getting deals done.
I’m proud to maintain a healthy pursuit of sports and competition outside of work, including fun runs, ocean swimming events, and cycling events. I’m also proud to say that I have raised money for charity in almost all events I’ve participated in.
Our small team in Australia comprises genuine, growth-oriented, and high-integrity individuals who act quickly to deliver value to each client.
Find your mentors. Whether through friends, the workplace or attending networking events – finding mentors who can offer guidance will always be there when you have a big decision to make.
Being able to change someone’s life.
I love the ocean. I really enjoy swimming, surfing, or diving to see what I can find. I also have a passion for cooking, particularly for others!
Scott thrives in dynamic, fast-paced roles, excelling in
customer-facing environments that demand adaptability and
creativity. Scott began working as a business development
executive for a global FMCG SaaS scale-up, Foods Connected. He
then transitioned into the Ag-Tech space as an account
executive for AgriWebb and took the opportunity to support a
partnering Climate Tech start-up in their early growth
journey, AgriProve.
Passionate about Ag-Tech and climate tech, Scott has worked
with some of Australia’s largest farmers, driving impactful
solutions. Currently focused on recruitment in technology and
SaaS, he leverages his strong relationship-building skills to
connect talent with opportunity. Guided by integrity and
empathy, he builds genuine, long-term relationships that
deliver meaningful results.
Business Development Executive
2020
SDR
2022
Account Executive
2022
Business Development Manager
2023
Recruitment Consultant
2024
Authentic, genuine, curious, tenacious, straightforward.
I began working as an Account Executive at an FMCG SaaS scale-up, Foods Connected. I moved into the Ag-Tech sector, starting off as an SDR and Account Executive at AgriWebb. I then took a role as the first BDM hire at a climate tech company named AgriProve, Australia’s first carbon project developer.
Upon meeting James and Chris and seeing their long-term relationship, I was convinced that joining Bluebird would be highly valuable and that I would be supported along the way.
Resilience and perseverance. For many reasons, agriculture is a difficult industry in which to grow a technology company. Having the battle scars from working in the ag-tech space, I’ve fostered resilience and perseverance in business development and getting deals done.
I’m proud to maintain a healthy pursuit of sports and competition outside of work, including fun runs, ocean swimming events, and cycling events. I’m also proud to say that I have raised money for charity in almost all events I’ve participated in.
Our small team in Australia comprises genuine, growth-oriented, and high-integrity individuals who act quickly to deliver value to each client.
Find your mentors. Whether through friends, the workplace or attending networking events – finding mentors who can offer guidance will always be there when you have a big decision to make.
Being able to change someone’s life.
I love the ocean. I really enjoy swimming, surfing, or diving to see what I can find. I also have a passion for cooking, particularly for others!
Scott thrives in dynamic, fast-paced roles, excelling in
customer-facing environments that demand adaptability and
creativity. Scott began working as a business development
executive for a global FMCG SaaS scale-up, Foods Connected. He
then transitioned into the Ag-Tech space as an account
executive for AgriWebb and took the opportunity to support a
partnering Climate Tech start-up in their early growth
journey, AgriProve.
Passionate about Ag-Tech and climate tech, Scott has worked
with some of Australia’s largest farmers, driving impactful
solutions. Currently focused on recruitment in technology and
SaaS, he leverages his strong relationship-building skills to
connect talent with opportunity. Guided by integrity and
empathy, he builds genuine, long-term relationships that
deliver meaningful results.
Datto Talent Acquisition Partner APAC > Talent Acquisition Lead APAC
2019
Weel Talent Acquisition Manager
2022
Recruitment Consultant
2025
Happy, motivated, entrepreneurial, animal lover.
I started my SaaS career building the APAC founding team for Datto, a US Cyber Security vendor. I later set up the talent team at Weel, an Aussie founded Fintech start up. During my time with Weel, I was seconded into the channel sales team to rebuild their Hubspot dashboards, review the customer journey, update outreach templates and build the SDR onboarding programme.
I was actually planning to travel in New Zealand and took on a 2 week temp job in the Learning & Development team of a large Manufacturing and Construction company in Auckland. 2 weeks turned into 6 weeks which turned into 12 months! At the end of my year in NZ, I transferred with that company to Sydney and moved into the Aussie talent team, starting as a sourcing consultant and progressing to a recruitment business partner which I did for 3 years before moving into SaaS. I dabbled in some recruitment years before, hiring retail staff for H&M!
Big picture thinking and context switching! I’ve been a recruitment generalist my whole career so understanding how different functions connect, and quickly understanding the nuances of different departments helps me to ask the right questions, ramp quickly, and ultimately find those gems who really add value.
Scaling the Datto APAC team (Sales, Success, Support,
Marketing, Finance, Product, Engineering). The culture was
magic and the APAC team was the highest performing and
highest engaged across the business. It warms my heart to
see friendships formed years ago continue, and many
colleagues still working together today.
Personally, moving to Malibu, California for 4 months to
look after two labradors whose human parents I met on a
plane! It’s a wild story and so many amazing things came
from saying yes to that random opportunity!
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Take the time to think deeply about what’s important to you. Revisit your values and goals often, and use them to shape your job search. Candidates who are focused and purposeful tend to have far more success than those taking a scattergun approach. From there, prepare carefully and use your network or a mentor to validate your choices and refine your strategy.
I love catching up with candidates a few months into a role and hearing how they’re progressing - seeing their confidence grow, their networks expand, and their success take shape. I also really enjoy partnering with clients to consult on their requirements, often helping them clarify what they truly need versus what they initially think they need.
I’m a dog sitter on the side of my everyday job and I absolutely love it. Winding down and zoning out at Soundbath classes. Road trips (blasting country music). Long walks for the views. Hanging out with family in my Mum & Dad’s kitchen! Holidays where you experience life as a local.
I’m Sarah, a results-driven sales and recruitment professional with over five years of experience building strong CEO and C-suite relationships across SaaS, retail, and commercial industries. After progressing through high-performing SaaS sales roles at LoyaltyLion, helping drive £250,000 in ARR, I moved to Australia and transitioned into recruitment. Today at Bluebird, I combine resilience, curiosity, and a people-first approach to help fast-growing teams find exceptional talent and build lasting partnerships.
Sales Development Representative > Senior Account Executive
2020
Recruitment Consultant
2024
Recruitment Consultant
2026
Curious, resilient, lucky, authentic, people-focused
I built my SaaS sales career in eCommerce loyalty tech, starting as an SDR and advancing through four promotions to Senior Account Executive.
I ended up in recruiting after looking for a new way to channel what I’ve always loved about sales - I discovered recruiting as a way to combine connection, impact, and energy. The moment I realised I could help people shape their futures while supporting growing businesses, I was all in.
I bring a mix of empathy and urgency. I care about creating a great experience for candidates, while also understanding the pace and pressure businesses face when hiring. I’m not afraid to challenge the conversation, because sometimes the best opportunities come from thinking bigger, leaning into discomfort, and redefining what the 'right fit' really looks like. I’m here to help people and teams get there.
Moving to Australia without knowing what the future would look like was one of the biggest leaps I’ve taken. It taught me how to trust myself, follow your curiosity, and grow through change. I’m proud of the strength and perspective that came from that experience.
I’d choose Bluebird because we do this differently. We don’t just fill roles, we build real partnerships. We bring market insight, deep care, and a high bar for the experience on both sides. People trust us because we’re honest, invested, and relentless about finding the right match.
Don’t try to be the 'perfect candidate' and focus on the value you bring. The best jobseekers ask great questions, challenge the conversation, and show real perspective, not just a resume. Be clear, be confident, and don’t be afraid.
The levels of possibility. Every day, I get to help someone take a step forward, and help a company build the team that will shape its future. That’s a pretty special place to be.
You’ll usually find me painting, snorkelling, or soaking up everything Australia has to offer. I love the balance between doing absolutely nothing, and doing absolutely everything.
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