As a salesman myself, I can definitely hold a completely opposing view. If sales are going well, commissions are decent, and the managers aren’t constantly making things difficult, it’s very hard to imagine someone leaving a company just for the sake of it.
However, Opto was supposed to have that potential, blue ocean, etc., so sales and commissions should basically be coming in for free if the product were actually any good.
The Sales Director is responsible for strategic management and the big picture, while the Sales Manager focuses on concrete sales work and account management.
I definitely see it only as a negative sign when people start leaving a company where, in theory, a salesperson should have the opportunity to earn very good money. Of course, situations are always personal, and one shouldn’t draw too large of a conclusion from this alone.