David Thornton

About David Thornton

I am a Marketing Operations leader with over a decade of experience building and scaling high-performance revenue engines for global SaaS organizations like Databricks, Salesloft, and Alation. My approach centers on a simple philosophy: marketing technology should not just exist, but serve as a primary driver of measurable growth.Throughout my career, I have specialized in the \"plumbing\" of the marketing funnel: lead and data operations. I have a proven track record of designing complex system architectures that bridge the gap between marketing interest and sales action. Whether it is rebuilding account assignment graphs for hundreds of global reps or incorporating on-demand data enrichment to align with an ICP, I focus on ensuring that no lead is left behind and every data point is actionable.

Experience

1. Senior Marketing Operations Manager

   Alation

   Jun 2024 — Present · Raleigh, NC, US

   As the owner of the marketing technology stack, designed the systems architecture and operational workflows for the marketing team. Served as the primary systems admin for Marketo, Leandata, Outreach, 6sense, Goldcast, Storylane, and Zoominfo. Managed the lead and data operations sub-function within MOPS. Rebuilt the entire lead, contact, and account assignment graphs to ensure accurate and timely delivery of leads to sales. Developed firm and enforceable SLAs with sales to drive MQL conversion. Reworked lead scoring processes and MQL rules in order to deliver significant improvements in lead quality. Incorporated on demand data enrichment to align ICP with demographic scoring. Managed vendor relations and the purchasing/renewal process to ensure a best in class tech stack.

Education

• North Carolina State University

  Master's degree, International/Global Studies

  2011 — 2015

• Florida State University

  Bachelor's degree, Political Science and Government

  2006 — 2009