You have just taken a position as a Business Development Representative (BDR) or Account Executive and you are wondering what the difference is between them. Actually those positions have different roles in the company.
An account executive is the person who represents a company in its pursuit of new business. This position is usually found in larger companies and works under the supervision of an account executive. The BDR’s main responsibility is to prospect for new clients and provide support for the existing clients.
Summary Tables
| BDR | AE |
| Develop new businesses | Maintaining the existing clients |
| Make the business growing | Finding the new potential market |
What is BDR?
A BDR is a business development professional who identifies and develops new business. BDRs typically report to a business development manager, or to the marketing director in smaller companies. The role of BDR is important.
It requires skill to maintain the business development pipeline and to negotiate business development deals. BDRs are involved in many of the company’s sales and marketing activities, including making presentations, setting up meetings, drafting letters, setting up a web site, conducting market research and writing proposals.
What is AE?
An account executive represents a company in its pursuit of new business. The role of an account executive is typically found in larger companies and works under the supervision of an account executive. The account executive’s main responsibility is to prospect for new clients and provide support for the existing clients.
BDR VS AE
In the BDR position, you will be responsible for developing a prospect list of potential clients, while the Account Executive position is focused on servicing and maintaining existing clients. BDRs generally spend more time on their prospects and less time on their clients. On other side, Account Exxecutive’s main focus is to manage and service existing clients.
A BDR’s primary responsibility is to develop a prospect list of potential clients, while an Account Executive’s primary responsibility is to service and maintain existing clients. A BDR generally spends more time on their prospects and less time on their clients.
On the other hand, an Account Executive spends more time on their clients and less time on their prospects. It all depends on your company needs in the business sector you are working in.
There are many differences between the two positions. However, they have similar responsibilities. An account executive has more responsibility than a BDR. The difference between them is in the level of authority and their level of involvement in the client relationship process. In an account executive position, they handle some clients on behalf of the company while they do not have authority over them but only promote and manage their relationship with existing clients in a large company that manages its own sales force.
