Part vent, part severance question

Question at the top so you don't have to scroll through: have you ever successfully negotiated an exit package?

--
Context:
About two years ago, I helped sell a company. We knew the acquisition would be a bloodbath for external-facing teams (read: all functions that reported into me, namely sales and marketing) because the acquiring company was larger. Not great but at least it was known very early on. Set the people I managed up for success and decided I wanted to stay in start-up land longer. 

Took a job as VP Sales in another start-up that shares investors with the company that just sold; had to be convinced to join for a number of different reasons.

Completely had to rebuild the entire GTM and sales function from the ground up since it was such an immature function when I joined (ex: they would preemptively give out discounts, there was no cohesive pricing structure, customer journey, or defined deal stages to give an idea of the depth of the issue.). Culture was an issue and a lot of it boiled down to first-time founder problems but I did manage to improve their growth rate from 20 to 45% for the last 1.5 years.

Now:
This week, I'm told they're letting me go because they are getting rid of the VP Sales function and folding sales under marketing and putting one of the ICs I hired in charge as a middle manager. The company is sales-led and not product-led growth. The entire team is one I've brought in; I've hired or recruited 1/3 of the company. They're mid-fundraising. I'm mid-hiring. The company is mid-a lot of things that I'm meant to help with on my way out. No notice, no PIP, nothing in writing. 

The current offer/request is an ask to continue for another month by telling a very different narrative about my not being at the company, and helping transition, shape, and not blow up the above things in motion. As is standard, we are at-will but this feels perhaps abnormal. Hoping to get some data points here as I’ve never been let go before (made it 12 years!) so I’m shooting in the dark but negotiating is in my DNA.

What is normal and what has been your experience? 
👨‍🚒 DumpsterFire
🔫 Job Separation
🤒 C-Suite Stupidity
13
Phillip_J_Fry
Opinionated
8
Director of Revenue
Sounds like a convo to have with Dan Goodman, who could give some helpful advice
jefe
Arsonist
4
🍁
+1 for Dan. It'll be less than $900 but I'm sure well worth it.

Your situation is a strange one and it doesn't seem like you're being treated well.
postAcquisition
Contributor
2
Head of Revenue
Heard. Will do!

Something, something it’s not about the money it’s about sending a message 🤷🏻‍♀️
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
It's both. Make 'em hurt and make 'em pay. The former often comes with the latter.
Justatitle
Tycoon
4
Account Executive
yes I have negotiated severance twice and you have a strong case to do so.

2.) Hit up Dan goodman on Linkedin.
SaaSsy
Politicker
0
AE
Sorry to hear, amazing how so many founders can be clueless as it sounds like you’ve done great things! Def talk to anyone you can but first, I would write down my true number $ wise, how many months you want benefits to extend, etc. and use that as a guidepost for asking/making concessions.
noname123
Politicker
0
noname
Tried negotiating at my last place but it was a bunch of douchbags doing a circlejerk and full of nepotism in leadership. I was ignored and told take it or leave it in mg severance.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
ERP Sales
Sorry to hear this! Good luck in the search, lots of great advice in the comment with going with Dan Goodman
LegacySales
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Look, if the company is rolling up sales into Marketing, my bet is that the Middle Manager that you had hired (who is now the Junior VP of sales that reports to the CMO now?) either:
1) Hunger games you and was plotting this for months or
2) CEO favorited him for some weird reason that was beyond your control.

Anyway, best of luck, been fired twice and it always SUCKS (I've also been the person that was forced to fire someone), but know that life goes on.
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
dang yeah I would for sure negotiate!
MRK47
Tycoon
0
VP of International Sales
Depends on what leverage you may have....as part of severance, does this include non-compete? If they are mid raise, it's bad optics to see the VPS role removed with no real replacement strategy in place (unproven AE being elevated) so it's in the company's interest for you to disappear quietly over the horizon (with a clean transition / hand-off)....this has value. My narrative would be that I do not want to be forced to seek employment in the same domain (as that's the quickest path) and take my extensive domain knowledge & contacts with me and I want to be able in good faith, to reassure the team I built that the business is directionally strong (to minimize flight risks).....for this to happen, I need a runway of x months if having to look outside of the domain for next role etc....
No guarantees given its at-will and employers will make it as hard as they can...I just faced the same scenario (after a record qtr and 4 days prior to vesting anniversary)....new investors came in and removed a chunk of the ELT for no obvious reason....went down the legal route....didn't change the outcome.....sometimes you have to chalk it down to experience, move on and go into the next role with eyes more widely open.
ChumpChange
Politicker
0
Channel Manager
Sure thing! Since we're on the topic of requests, here's what I propose in exchange for ______________. How do you want to proceed?

Sounds like they're trying to force you to quit or steady the ship during this rough patch. Either way... everything has a cost.
6

Any advice on how to best answer the “Tell me a little about yourself” question during a sales interview? 🤔

Question
6
15
Members only

leaving company - commission question

Discussion
25
7

Recruiter Question? Need advice

Question
9