Operator-led advisory for Software, SaaS, and AI, built for decision clarity and predictable execution.
Gérard Métrailler is a CEO, GM, and senior operating executive with 25+ years of experience transforming software businesses into high-performing SaaS platforms. He supports Boards, Private Equity, and executive teams with pragmatic strategy, product, and go-to-market decisions, and operating cadence that holds up under real-world constraints.
What Gérard is known for
Strategic clarity that translates into execution. Gérard’s work typically sits at the intersection of: product strategy, go-to-market design, SaaS migration, operational efficiency, pragmatic AI adoption, and software M&A (diligence and integration).
Common outcomes
- Faster, cleaner executive decisions (clear tradeoffs, fewer “re-decisions”)
- A measurable operating cadence (KPIs that lead, not lag)
- Improved commercial alignment across Product, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success
- Reduced risk in SaaS transitions (mitigating the “J-curve” dip)
- Clear diligence signals: product health, pricing power, retention risk, technical debt vs innovation capacity
Areas of advisory focus
Software, SaaS, and AI strategy
Pragmatic portfolio and category strategy, positioning, packaging, and roadmap governance that aligns teams and reduces thrash.
Go-to-market design (global, multi-channel)
Direct and partner motions across North America, EMEA, and APAC, including channel incentives and conflict management.
SaaS transformation (perpetual to subscription)
Migration strategy designed to reduce the revenue “J-curve” and preserve customer trust: offers, entitlements, renewal mechanics, and lifecycle motion.
Private Equity value creation and M&A
Operator-led diligence and post-merger integration playbooks (30/60/90), with clear red flags and integration priorities.
Operating cadence and efficiency
KPI architecture, accountability systems, and “Rule of 50”-style balancing of growth and profitability in global P&Ls.
How Gérard works
Simple principle: clarity first, then cadence.
- Context intake: goals, constraints, current plan, and decision bottlenecks
- Signal audit: product health, funnel metrics, retention, pricing, customer feedback loops
- Decision framework: define tradeoffs, guardrails, and what “good” looks like
- Execution cadence: KPIs, operating rhythm, owners, and review loop
- 90-day momentum: measurable progress without an overbuilding process
This structure is designed to be effective whether the work is a single expert call or an embedded advisory engagement.
Selected leadership experience
- SVP & GM, Software and Professional Services, Altium (managed flagship ~$200M software business unit; global execution; enterprise and mid-market dynamics)
- EVP, Global Products (CPO-equivalent), Corel (Alludo) (portfolio ownership across multiple product lines: graphics, virtualization, productivity, utilities)
- VP, Global Products, Corel (perpetual-to-subscription migration, packaging/pricing, retention economics)
- CEO & Strategic Advisor, Clarivia Inc. (PE value creation, diligence, integration playbooks, pragmatic AI leverage)
Languages
Gérard is trilingual/native in English, French, and German, and is available for advisory conversations in all three.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What types of advisory calls does Gérard take?
Expert calls, diligence support, and executive advisory focused on strategy, product, GTM, operating cadence, and KPIs.
Can Gérard support Private Equity due diligence?
Yes. Operator-led diligence with focus on product health, roadmap risk, retention signals, pricing power, and technical debt vs innovation capacity.
Does Gérard work with mid-market software businesses?
Yes. His experience spans mid-market to enterprise contexts, including global P&L and multi-geo execution.
What is a common “early win” in an engagement?
Clarifying decision tradeoffs and installing a KPI cadence that reduces rework and accelerates alignment.
Can Gérard help with SaaS migration from perpetual licenses?
Yes. He focuses on mitigating the typical “J-curve” and protecting customer trust during entitlement and renewal changes.
Does Gérard advise on packaging and pricing?
Yes. Including tiering strategy, willingness-to-pay segmentation, and lifecycle motion impacts.
Can Gérard help with AI initiatives?
Yes, with a pragmatic lens: where AI creates measurable leverage and how to govern quality, risk, and ROI.
What does “operating cadence” mean in practice?
Clear owners, leading indicators, review rhythm, and decision hygiene that keeps execution predictable.
Does Gérard do interim leadership?
Yes, when needed, typically in the context of value creation between full-time roles.
How do we start?
Use the Advisory Take Action page to share context and request the right next step.