David Besnainou

Sales Leader

Washington DC-Baltimore Area

About

Building and scaling world-class go-to-market organizations from the earliest stages through successful exits. Most recently helped scale LayerX Security through its acquisition by Akamai, leading enterprise sales initiatives, hiring exceptional talent, shaping GTM strategy, and helping establish AI usage control as a new cybersecurity category. My leadership philosophy is simple: hire for drive, character, curiosity, and work ethic. Skills can be developed, while culture and execution determine whether a company reaches its next stage of growth. My perspective is shaped by more than 40 quarters of enterprise sales and sales leadership, combined with education through Pavilion, Georgetown and Wharton. I enjoy connecting with ambitious founders, operators, investors, and sales leaders, and am always happy to pay forward the mentorship and opportunities others have given me. Outside of work: family, travel, and elaborate desserts.

Experience

  • Sales Leader // Akamai (ex-LayerX Security) at Akamai Technologies
    Jul 2026 - Present · 1 mo

  • Regional Director at LayerX Security
    2025 - 2026 · 1 yr

  • Netskope ()
    • Regional Director
      2024 - Apr 2025 · 1 yr 4 mos

    • Regional Sales Manager
      2021 - 2024 · 3 yrs

  • Account Executive at Okta, Inc.
    2020 - 2021 · 1 yr

  • Account Executive at Mapbox
    2018 - 2019 · 1 yr