Derek Knittle

About Derek Knittle

16+ Years Driving Enterprise SaaS Success. I’m a tenured Enterprise Account Executive with a passion for delivering transformative SaaS solutions to global organizations. With 16 years of experience across cybersecurity, EHS, and GRC, I specialize in building strategic partnerships, navigating complex sales cycles, and driving multimillion-dollar revenue growth. My Journey:I began my career at IBM as a Business Development Rep, earning two promotions over nearly 9 years. As a Commercial Account Executive and later an Enterprise Account Executive in IBM’s SaaS Security division, I closed high-value deals with Fortune 500 clients, mastering consultative selling and pipeline management. Seeking new challenges, I joined NAVEX, a global leader in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) SaaS software. There, I drove adoption of compliance solutions, consistently exceeding quotas in competitive markets. At Gartner, I sharpened my advisory skills, partnering with C-suite leaders to align technology investments with strategic business goals, enhancing my ability to engage economic buyers. At Cority, I empowered enterprises to streamline regulatory compliance, reduce workplace risk, and boost operational efficiency with our Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) SaaS platform. Currently, at A-LIGN, I help organizations meet all of their compliance needs with trusted auditors who deliver high quality audits through a variety of frameworks including SOC 2, CMMC, ISO 27001, HITRUST, and much more. Why Me?Proven track record of closing complex, enterprise deals across IT Security, GRC, and EHSExpertise in engaging C-level stakeholders and delivering data-driven solutions.Passionate about helping organizations achieve compliance and growth through innovative SaaS and services.

Experience

1. Enterprise Account Executive - New Logo

   A-LIGN

   Sep 2025 — Present · Philadelphia, PA, US

   A-LIGN is the leading provider of high-quality, efficient cybersecurity compliance program solutions. Combining experienced auditors, services, and audit management technology, A-LIGN provides the widest breadth and depth of services including SOC 2, ISO 27001, HITRUST, CMMC, FedRAMP, and PCI in the industry. A-LIGN is the number one issuer of SOC2 and HITRUST, as well as a top three FedRAMP assessor. Over 5,700 organizations trust A-LIGN for cybersecurity program success. For more information, visit a-lign.com.

Education

• Penn State University

  Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Sales

  2005 — 2009

Skills

• Salesforce.com
• Virtualization
• Cold Calling
• Sales
• Software Industry
• Account Management
• Sales Process
• Management
• Security
• Enterprise Software
• Wireless
• Customer Relationship Management (Crm)
• Leadership
• Lead Generation
• Data Center
• Saas
• Cloud Computing
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Direct Sales
• Software as a Service (Saas)
• Business Development
• Strategic Partnerships
• Crm
• Professional Services
• Managed Services
• Mobile Devices
• Solution Selling