Account Management Team Built for Australia's Largest eCom Email Agency

Note: the video testimonial was recorded when we hired the first Account Manager for MKTG Emails.

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Snapshot:

Business: E-commerce Email Marketing Agency (MKTG Emails)

‍Roles Hired: 2 Account Managers for eCom Email — sourced from the Philippines

‍Objective: Scale client-facing account management capacity to support Australia's largest eCom email operation.

‍Outcome: Two direct hires placed in under 2 weeks; enabled MKTG Emails to scale account management infrastructure for bigger eCom brands

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The Problem:

MKTG Emails had already established itself as Australia's largest eCom email marketing agency, serving big DTC brands.

But client updates, campaign pacing, and Klaviyo execution still flowed through limited bandwidth.

U.S. hires at $60K–$80K per Account Manager would compress margins on mid-tier clients. Freelancers couldn't deliver the consistency.

The mandate: find two permanent, full-time Account Managers who could own client outcomes, communicate professionally, and work US-aligned hours.

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The Strategy:

Zabota ran the Direct-Hire Sprint:

1. Role & Pod Definition – We mapped the client delivery loop: 2x Account Managers to handle client communication, campaign strategy, performance reporting, and Klaviyo execution ownership.
   
   
2. Geo Targeting (Philippines) – We sourced for a strong English, proven eCom email experience, and operator-level client management.
   
   
3. Signal-Based Vetting – Beyond resumes: async clarity tests, ownership markers, client communication scenarios, and portfolio proof-of-work; only A-player finalists hit the founder's calendar
   
   
4. Direct Hire, Zero Markup – MKTG Emails hired directly (no payroll middleman), backed by our 90-day free replacement guarantee.

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The Hires:

Region: Philippines
Roles:

• 2x Account Managers

Time-to-Hire: Less than 2 weeks

‍Model: Full-time, direct hire; no ongoing % of wages.

Results:

Payroll Efficiency: $74,000/year saved vs. equivalent US Account Manager hires, while maintaining US-grade communication and client delivery (that's the mid-market value: capability at operator rates).

Founder Leverage: Founder steps out of daily client comms, campaign updates, and performance reporting; time reinvested into sales and agency growth strategy.

Quality & Speed: Same-day client responses, cleaner weekly reporting, and faster campaign execution cycles driven by clearer ownership.

System Installed: A repeatable direct-hire track (targeted sourcing → structured vetting → shortlist → plug-in onboarding) now used to scale additional roles as both agencies grow.

Why It Works

At Zabota, we place mid-market operators, not VAs, not overpriced local hires. By sourcing in the Philippines and hiring direct, founders get senior, client-ready Account Managers at sustainable comp. The result: capability, culture, and profit.