On 2 February, the NEOMA Business School Advanced Master in Business Development and Key Account Management celebrated its 10th anniversary. More than 120 guests, alumni, students and stakeholders came together at the School’s Parisian campus for a festive but enriching event.

After opening the celebrations, Odile LETRILLART, NEOMA BS Director of Executive Education and part-time Master programmes and Thomas Fraudet, Director of the Master in Business Development and Key Account Management, handed over to our special guest, Xavier LATOURNERIE, Director of Saint-Cyr in-service training, who spoke on the topic of  “Leadership and Business Development.”

The talk was followed by two panel discussions on challenges and prospects for business development.

The first, chaired by Marilyn Baron, Personal Development and Talent Management Project Manager for the NEOMA BS Talent and Career Development Unit, dealt with the essential qualities of a Business Developer.
The panel comprised:
Michaël DOUKHAN, 2008 graduate, Account Executive - Axway
Benoit SABATIER, 2006 graduate, National Key Account Manager - Mercedes-Benz
Soumaya BELKASSEH, 2009 graduate, Branch Manager – Tectra, leading temporary agency, Morocco
Grégory HENRY, 2013 graduate, Account Executive - Alfresco
Bruno DE MATOS, 2016 graduate, Business Developer Africa - Veolia
It emerged that creativity, pragmatism, a sense of reality and leadership are the keys. “A good Business Developer is a good leader and a good strategist,” declared Xavier LATOURNERIE.

The second panel discussion, chaired by Thomas Fraudet, Director of the Master in Business Development and Key Account Management covered the challenges of digitisation.
The alumni present around the table were:
Dalien MIAKEBANA, 2012 graduate, Regional Account Manager - APPLE
Gauthier DAVESNE, 2016 graduate, Consulting Sales Representative - Oracle
Katia ORLOVA, 2010 graduate, Account Executive - Google
Charles BENARD, 2014 graduate, Bid Manager - Téléfonic Global Solutions
Sébastien DUJONCQUOY, 2012 graduate, Account Director - Aquent
They stressed the importance of evaluating the challenges, and particularly of understanding Big Data, as well as taking care over one’s digital image and network.

Finally, Clément Langlois, Aurélien Garnier and Candela Monge, all three currently students in the Master in Business Development and Key Account Management have presented their career path of the last ten years and set an appointment in ten years, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the programme!

After the discussions a drinks reception provided an opportunity for networking in a friendly atmosphere.

>Find out more about the NEOMA Business School Master in Business Development and Key Account Management

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Twitter: #10ansMSBDCGC