Approaching key account management from a long-term perspective

The importance of Key Account Management (KAM) in building long-term relationships between suppliers and customers is widely recognized in the marketing literature. However, this relationship-oriented perspective of KAM lacks appropriate empirical examination. To fill this gap, the present study uses data from 304 personally administrated interviews to empirical examine Key Account Management Orientation (KAMO), a notion that integrates a set of values that a supplier should develop in order to manage effectively KAM relationships. Furthermore, the study examines how KAMO relates with company performance within a broader relationship marketing perspective. Academic as well as managerial implications are discussed.