Mikhail Yakubov Email & Phone Number

Tallinn, Estonia

In a deeply embedded Senior Technical Sales role for a major search engine company (Yandex) and a large software development outsourcing provider (DataArt), as well as an independent consultant, I spearheaded multiple successful project completions by leading and managing cross-functional teams in initial discovery and solution design.+ Repeatedly harmonized complex solution requirements by creatively integrating technologies, vendors, SaaS, COTS, OSS, in-house and outsourced development.+ Expanded project scope and revenue by presenting a persuasive business case for a comprehensive marketing accountability project to the CEO.+ Salvaged a delayed b2b fleet-management system release by continuously refining customer requirements hands-on and managing expectations with transparency.+ Restored communication during a challenging roll-out by facilitating collaboration between client C-level stakeholders.+ Distinguished client's RFP response by articulating the value of a developers portal and showcasing technical API accessibility options.+ Assisted client's executive committee in defining the company's unique selling proposition and market positioning.

Summoned to take part in a large digital advertising agency modernization effort. Charged with increasing productivity and diversifying customer proposition through technology. Tasked with turning IT from a bottleneck into a service-enhancing center. + Convinced top management to drop planned oversimplified pricing reform in favor of more promising one by building a persuasive business case.+ Made managerial decision-making more robust by bringing knowledge, experience and communication skills to company's technology partnerships.+ Boosted IT department output by hiring proper staff, intensely mentoring and leading its effort.+ Enriched company service proposition by leading hands-on the development of main data warehouse.+ Enabled faster and more versatile response to customer requests by introducing virtual workplace and other tools.+ Made company's service level more consistent by developing and deploying QA tools like ad campaign validator.

Charged with addressing advanced requirements of top-300 ($100M/y revenue stream) Yandex.Direct context ad customers, incl. Booking, Tripadvisor, Ebay. Led integration with global ad management platforms, incl. Adobe Marketing Cloud. Responsible for communication with major domestic technology parnters. Oversaw Yandex.Direct API (enabling $600M/y revenue) tactical and strategic evolution.+ Devised and introduced a rapid application development practice radically different from the main Direct development approach.+ Hired and coached custom solutions tech team.+ Introduced 12 new ad management options in a year, effectively eliminating 3-year-old top customer requests backlog. + Scored 400+ adoption cases by carefully aligning customer priorities and team capabilities.+ Brought in an estimated $15M of additional revenue with the custom solutions team.+ Ironed out Adobe integration issues.+ Fostered adoption of new Direct features, and refined requirements for the new Direct API version, by hosting quarterly "Club" customer-facing sessions as well as one-on-one consultations with major domestic tech partners.+ Introduced and advocated main new concepts of the next version of the Direct API.

Led effort to expand the boutique social media marketing agency operations while bringing its manageability to a new level. Took part in acquiring and retaining important customers hands-on, while introducing and maintaining new business practices. Supervised the infrastructure and software development aspects of the business. Acted as deputy CEO.SKCG grew into a solid profitable business while I was with them.

With me, AGAVA grew from a half-a-dozen men startup to a multimillion-dollar operation, providing software development outsourcing, B2B and B2C web services, and digital marketing.I assumed roles of Head of Software Development, Head of UI Department, Head of Web Projects, Product Owner, and others. As a member of top management team, I evaluated, planned and executed most of the strategic moves of the company (partnerships, acquisitions, sales, long-term priorities selection).

Brought to life the first Russian media website. Conceived and expanded the concept. Took part in and supervised programming, layout, deployment and maintenance of the site. Stirred the community, evangelized a lot. Developed the first Russian web bookstore Cyrillica.

Led development of a widely adopted Market Analysis and Decision-Support System.