--- title: Building Sales, Partnerships and People at Sempre description: Meet James D’Souza, Sempre’s new Head of Sales. With decades of B2B sales leadership in tech and data consultancy, James shares his journey, approach to sales strategy, and passion for building high-impact customer partnerships. image: https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(3).png --- [Skip to content](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/building-partnerships#main-content) - What We Do Design & Deliver [Enterprise Performance Management Accurately plan, forecast & budget to improve performance](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/enterprise-performance-management/) [Business Intelligence Answer key business questions using data](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/business-intelligence/) [Data Management Integrate, organise, secure and govern your data](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/data-management/) [Intelligent Automation Automate routine and repetitive tasks](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/intelligent-automation/) Optimise & Support [Managed Services The support you need, when you need it](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/managed-service/) [Training Services Increase the power of your data for decision making](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/sempre-analytics-training-courses/) Technologies [Anaplan](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/anaplan/) [Automation Anywhere](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/automation-anywhere/) [IBM](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/ibm-technologies/) [Informatica](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/informatica/) [Microsoft](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/microsoft/) - 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The Story So Far…](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AdobeStock_889788354-scaled-1.jpg)](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/cognos-12-1-0) [IBM Cognos Analytics](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/tag/cognos-analytics) [What’s New in Cognos 12.1.0 - The Story So Far…](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/cognos-12-1-0) - [Talk to us](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/contact/) [Talk to us](https://www.sempreanalytics.com/contact/) ![Building Sales, Partnerships and People at Sempre](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(3).png) by [Sonia Hanfrey](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/author/sonia-hanfrey) ![Sonia Hanfrey](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hubfs/Blog_authors/Sonia%20Hanfrey.png) [mailto:sonia.hanfrey@sempreanalytics.com](mailto:sonia.hanfrey@sempreanalytics.com) [General](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/tag/general) # Building Sales, Partnerships and People at Sempre ![James D Linked In](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/James%20D%20Linked%20In.jpg?width=800&height=1200&name=James%20D%20Linked%20In.jpg) * ~ an Interview with James D’Souza, Sempre Analytics’s new Head of Sales*  When you meet James D’Souza, it’s immediately clear: this is someone who cares about people. Whether it’s guiding a sales team, speaking to customers, or raising funds as a trustee for the Samaritans, James leads with empathy, energy, and experience.    **Falling into sales (and staying for the people)**  James didn’t set out to be a salesperson, but as he puts it, he *"just sort of fell into it"* during his time at a Microsoft reseller. That early experience, working on a Microsoft sales programme and eventually being hired by the tech giant, set the tone for a career shaped by partnerships, leading from the front, and understanding the real value of a strong sales function. Over the years, he’s worked across channel, vendor, partner, and GSI landscapes, including stints at Microsoft, Cognizant, and IBM. That breadth of experience gives him a sharp eye for how different sales models work, and, more importantly, how they don’t. *“I’m not really interested in what we did last year,”* James says. *“It’s about what we’re doing now. Are we doing it the right way? Is it scalable? Are we bringing people along with us?”* **A manager who leads by example** James’s leadership style blends accountability with clear care for his team. He’s direct when he needs to be but always rooted in development. *“I’ve probably been too soft at times,”* he laughs. *“But I’m obsessed with doing things right, right sales behaviours, right team structures, right mindset. You can’t scale a business if the foundations aren’t solid.”* He’s a firm believer in understanding the people behind the roles, remembering names, pets, birthdays, and ensuring everyone knows they’re part of something bigger. *“It’s not just about a number. It’s about belief. And building that belief, every day, in every conversation.”* **Why Sempre? Why now?**  Having competed against Sempre in the past, James was well aware of its reputation, nimble, specialist, customer-led. When the opportunity arose to lead the sales function, it felt like the right fit at the right time. *“There’s great work already happening here. It’s not about tearing that down, it’s about moving the dial, building structure, and creating something scalable that the whole business can get behind. We’ve got brilliant customers, great consultants, strong partners, it’s a matter of bringing it all together.”* James is particularly excited about aligning sales and marketing more closely and building repeatable models to expand Sempre’s footprint in core verticals. **People, purpose and paddel**  Outside of work, James is a keen padel tennis player. He’s clocked over 400 games and even runs paddle tournaments to raise money for the [Harrogate Samaritans](https://www.samaritans.org/branches/harrogate/), where he serves as a trustee. *“It’s the people bit again,” he says. “I get a buzz from being part of something that’s bigger than me, and helping where I can.”* James’s commitment to giving back also stems from personal experience. He’s jumped out of a plane at 15,000 feet, organised paddle tournaments, and picked up the phone countless times to broker partnerships - all in the name of supporting causes close to his heart, and in memory of his goddaughter. *“You have to do something meaningful,”* he says. *“We’re lucky to work in this industry, giving something back is just part of it.”* **Three words to sum up Sempre?**  **“Energising. Collaborative. Fun.”** Welcome, James, we’re excited to be on this journey with you.   ## About the author **Sonia Hanfrey** With over 15 years in the data and analytics space, Sonia Hanfrey focuses on driving strategic growth through meaningful engagement. Known for turning complex propositions into clear, relevant content, she builds strong partnerships across commercial, technical, and customer teams—delivering campaigns and experiences that resonate with the right audience at the right time. Sonia’s work isn’t just about marketing, it’s about helping organisations have better conversations, make informed decisions, and move faster towards their goals. ## Related posts [![](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/artem-beliaikin-jt9Lnsmq-3Y-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg?width=352&name=artem-beliaikin-jt9Lnsmq-3Y-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg) 15 December 2020](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/financial-resilience-in-retail) [Anaplan](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/tag/anaplan) ### [Which Retailers are proving to have Financial Resilience?](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/financial-resilience-in-retail) [![](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/jeriden-villegas-niSnhfMjiMI-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg?width=352&name=jeriden-villegas-niSnhfMjiMI-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg) 9 June 2022](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/fixing-remedial-costs-for-uk-housebuilders-data-integration-means-greater-business-resilience) [Planning and Analytics](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/tag/financial-planning) ### [Fixing remedial costs: for UK housebuilders, data integration means greater business resilience](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/fixing-remedial-costs-for-uk-housebuilders-data-integration-means-greater-business-resilience) [![](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/rawpixel-594846-unsplash-1800x1246-1.jpg?width=352&name=rawpixel-594846-unsplash-1800x1246-1.jpg) 1 May 2024](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/unlocking-financial-success-harnessing-the-power-of-ibm-planning-analytics) [Planning and Analytics](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/tag/financial-planning) ### [Unlocking Financial Success: Harnessing the Power of IBM Planning Analytics](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/unlocking-financial-success-harnessing-the-power-of-ibm-planning-analytics) [![](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Informatica-1.jpg?width=352&name=Informatica-1.jpg) 4 April 2023](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/informatica-platinum-enterprise) [Data Management](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/tag/data-management) ### [Sempre Analytics Awarded Informatica Platinum Enterprise Status](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/informatica-platinum-enterprise) [![](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/University-of-Surry.jpg?width=352&name=University-of-Surry.jpg) 16 December 2021](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/the-university-of-surrey-selects-sempre-analytics-and-anaplan-for-financial-and-operational-planning) [Anaplan](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/tag/anaplan) ### [The University of Surrey selects Sempre Analytics and Anaplan for financial and operational planning](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/the-university-of-surrey-selects-sempre-analytics-and-anaplan-for-financial-and-operational-planning) [![](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WhatsApp-Image-2024-05-18-at-15_47_34.jpg?width=352&name=WhatsApp-Image-2024-05-18-at-15_47_34.jpg) 3 May 2024](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/sempre-analytics-challenge-themselves-to-walk-400-km-for-charity) [General](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/tag/general) ### [Sempre Analytics challenge themselves to walk 400 km for Charity](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/blogs/sempre-analytics-challenge-themselves-to-walk-400-km-for-charity) ![anaplan-logo](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hubfs/Sempre%20Analytics%20-%202025/Images/Global/anaplan-logo.svg) ![automation-anywhere-logo](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hubfs/Sempre%20Analytics%20-%202025/Images/Global/automation-anywhere-logo.svg) ![ibm-logo-346x170](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sempre%20Analytics%20-%202025/Images/Global/ibm-logo-346x170.png?width=346&height=170&name=ibm-logo-346x170.png) ![informatica-logo](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hubfs/Sempre%20Analytics%20-%202025/Images/Global/informatica-logo.svg) ![microsoft-logo-346x170](https://resources.sempreanalytics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sempre%20Analytics%20-%202025/Images/Global/microsoft-logo-346x170.jpg?width=346&height=170&name=microsoft-logo-346x170.jpg) Industry Solutions - 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