I have talked about this issue continuously since 1996 - the argument goes on to date. The following is verbatim from my book Internet Marketing: a Practical Approach

" ... those who seek to meet organizational objects from the Internet appreciate that a successful website requires the input from a variety of skilled professionals. And while it is true that a few amateurs have produced successful websites, it is a very small number - of amateurs or professionals - who can boast proficiency in all of the skills necessary to develop a truly effective website. The skills required are diverse. In Online Marketing my suggested 'dream team' for website development includes: programmers, graphic designers, usability experts, content writers, copy writers and marketers - and I would now add search engine optimization specialists. A group that I missed from that list is the offline sales staff - who should be at least consulted during the development of any commercial web presence. In both online B2B and B2C marketing sales staff can have a real impact - for three key reasons, they are:

• Experienced staff have been there, seen it and done it. They know the product, the industry, the market and the customers. To ignore their input would be negligent. Beware, however - the website is a different medium to the face-to-face contact sales staff are used to, allowing them to develop the content themselves is not a good idea.
• Involving 'sales' in the site's development will help integrate the two elements of the organization's marketing. Too often it is the case that sales see the website as a competitor for customers rather than an ally in the task.
• The majority of B2B websites concentrate on lead generation and so when the potential customer contacts the firm - by whatever means - it is to the sales team that their inquiry should be directed. If they have had a hand in the development of the site then the sales staff will be better prepared to respond effectively to that initial communication."