After nearly 20 years at JMP, Dave Richardson is retiring as Vice President of Sales for Americas and EMEA at the end of January. He’s left an indelible mark on the company and his colleagues.
As CEO Jon Weisz said in his tribute to Dave at Kickoff earlier this month, “Dave had a steady hand that kept us focused on growth, while still ensuring we took good care of our customers. Thank you, Dave, for helping make JMP what it is today.”
Dave arrived at JMP in 2004, after a stint as Vice President of Sales at Avicon. He had also worked at BBN, along with JMP retirees Brad Jones and John Leary. “Dave was the perfect fit as a sales leader for our technical product, having the experience from BBN/RS1; he knew DOE and our kind of users. Dave assembled and led a great team that drove our success for many years, and he will be much missed,” said JMP Founder and Chair John Sall.
During his tenure at JMP, Dave built a culture of support and success for Sales team members.
“Working with Dave Richardson has been one of the highlights of my career," Senior Sales Manager Ashley Prince said. "Dave’s leadership style is truly a reflection of his personality – he is hardworking, nurturing, and extremely humble. I will always be thankful for his hands-on approach and willingness to roll up his sleeves and get involved with any task.”
“Dave not only motivated us to achieve our goals, but he helped shape the culture of pride and camaraderie that endures at JMP," Prince said. "Dave has truly been the heart of our sales organization, infusing warmth into every corner of JMP. His legacy is an enormously talented sales organization that consistently strives to raise the bar, along with a legion of happy JMP users across the globe. It has truly been an honor to have had Dave as a leader, mentor, and friend.”
Pre-Sales Support Senior Manager Chuck Boiler agreed. “I’ve learned a lot from Dave, including the wonders of the triple entendre, which is a true gift Dave displays often," he said. "Dave can simultaneously praise, discipline, coach, and tickle with just one sentence. It always leaves me smiling.”
“On a personal note, I’m deeply thankful to Dave for giving me a flexible schedule to take care of a family crisis at a particularly challenging time in a business cycle," Chuck continued. "I’ll always be grateful for the extra time I had because of Dave’s actions. Wishing Dave wonderful adventures on the water in the next chapter.”
Noriki Inoue, JMP Japan Country Manager, always appreciated Dave’s pride in the Americas teams, even if Dave took every opportunity to point out that JMP Japan was always in second place. “Dave never forgot to joke, even as he was reminding us that we were never able to catch up to him and his teams,” said Inoue. “I’m sure he’ll always remember to tell jokes and have fun, even in retirement.”
For Todd Hoffman, VP of EMEA Sales and Marketing, Dave’s retirement is bittersweet. “I have had the pleasure of working closely with Dave for over 15 years," Hoffman said. "He has been such a key part of JMP’s success and has enriched my experience with JMP in so many ways. Dave has a unique ability to bring a smile to others during challenging or stressful times. He has led with a strong mind and a big heart. We will miss Dave’s presence in our daily work, but his fingerprints throughout our great company will surely carry on. I look forward to seeing Dave’s big smile in photos with his expanding family as he enjoys retirement living.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And finally, Lori Casto, Director of Inside Sales for the Americas, leaves us with a proper ode to Dave and his legacy at JMP:
A Poem for Dave
In the realm of JMP sales where targets abound,
Stood a VP of Sales truly renowned.
But now the time has come for Dave to retire,
Trading the corporate hustle for dreams reaching higher.
No more quotas to meet, no more sales spiels,
Just leisurely moments, pure and surreal.
From boardrooms to vacations, a new venture begins.
A chapter of relaxation, where happiness wins.
As a VP of sales, your legacy is grand.
A skilled leader, you have led a great band.
Now with grandchildren in tow, your days will be a cherished tale,
So here’s to you and your family, may this chapter be forever grand.
In leisure and love, may your legacy expand.
All of us at JMP wish Dave fair winds and calm seas as he sets his sights on new adventures in retirement.
.jpeg)
