Channel Chat Podcast

Alanzo Blackstock, (Channel Director at ServiceNow) - Recovery Series Ep# 8

Tim Griffin, MD at DCC / Exertis - Recovery Series Ep#7

Jay McBain, Forrester -2021 Channel Influencer of the year - Recovery Series EP#6

Richard Blanford, CEO at Fordway Recovery Series Ep #5

Rob Tomlin, Vice President of Dell - Recovery Series Ep#4

Matt Parker, CEO at Babble Recovery Series Ep #3

Pete Tomlinson, CEO at Windsor Telecom Recovery Series Ep #2

Pete Tomlinson, CEO at Windsor Telecom

Scott Haddow, CEO at MTI - Recovery Series Ep #1

Scott Haddow, CEO at MTI - Recovery Series Ep #1

LIVE: Softcat Leadership Team

During the first UK lockdown in 2020 hosts, Marc Sumner and Calum Lyle were joined by the Softcat leadership team - Graeme Watt (CEO), Colin Brown (MD), and Rhys Lawson (Head of Service Sales)

Alex Tatham, Managing Director at Westcoast

Alex Tatham, Managing Director at Westcoast

Ben Jackson, Managing Director at Titan Data Solutions

Ben Jackson, Managing Director at Titan Data Solutions

Steve Phillip, Founder at The Jordan Legacy Foundation

Steve Phillip, Founder at The Jordan Legacy Foundation

Colin Brown & Edwyn Van Rooyen, Softcat & T-Cup.

Colin Brown & Edwyn Van Rooyen, Softcat & T-Cup.

Nigel Dunn, Managing Director at Jabra

Nigel Dunn, Managing Director at Jabra

Mark Forster, Managing Director at Comms-Care

Mark Forster, Managing Director at Comms-Care

Scott Breadmore, Sales Director at Cherwell Software

Scott Breadmore, Sales Director at Cherwell Software

Rachel Cowell, Recruitment Manager at Softcat

Rachel Cowell, Recruitment Manager at Softcat

Anita Wosket, Head of Strategic Sales at Westcoast

Anita Wosket, Head of Strategic Sales at Westcoast

Yvonne Matzk, Founder at Coachere

Yvonne Matzk, Founder at Coachere

Kate Wood, Award Winning Culture Director

Kate Wood, Award Winning Culture Director

Nikki Wilton, Sales Leader

Nikki Wilton, Sales Leader

Hayley Roberts, CEO at Distology

Mary Hunter, Global Chief People Officer at Columbus

Mary Hunter, Global Chief People Officer at Columbus

Cathi Low , Director - Digital Transformation, Tech Data UK

Julie Simpson, CEO at ResourceiT Consulting

I really did get an education from Julie Simpson CEO from ResourceiT Consulting Ltd on this subject, on the Channel Chat podcast show. 🎤 🎤 Her passion for women in tech 👩‍💻 is unbelievable! 🦸‍♀️ In fact, I would go as far to say I was completely converted. I honestly didn’t really think about it much before. I just didn’t understand why is was an issue and so important. But her answers on the show really make me think differently! 🎙🎙👏👏 3 things to consider 1) Are your job specifica...

Jennifer Norman - Solutions Director, XMA.

Her story is fascinating, from ballerina 🩰 to barmaid🍻 to tech enthusiast. 👩‍💻 But the overall message I got from her was that any woman can come into tech and be successful. Let’s be candid. Very few of us really knew what we wanted to do at 18/19 years old. I certainly didn’t. At 18 I was working as trainee accountant and got fired 🔥 🤦‍♂️ ... #enoughsaid So if that’s the case, what else can we do to encourage young women to consider technology as an industry for their careers?

Mark Williams - Head of Commerical - Bytestock (LA Micro Group)

Host Mark Reddy was joined by Head of Commercial at Bytestock (LA Micro Group), Mark Williams. Mark started his career as a professional footballer playing for Brentford and Barnet respectively. In 2012 Mark joined LA Micro Group in a new business role and has progressed within the business to now head up Bytestock division. Mark offers great advice around starting out in IT sales, on-boarding and managing clients and also tips on the tough task of being a billing manager.

Stephen Bartlett - CEO & Founder, Social Chain.

Today Marc is joined in the virtual studio by the CEO & Founder of Social Chain, Stephen Bartlett. Social Chain a publicly traded social media company that uses owned media, marketing and technology to build Social Brands. In the last few years, he has become an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker and investor, and now leads a company of 700+ team members across 5 countries. Marc and Stephen discuss the influence of social media channels in business today and how you could go about bui...

Mike Norris, CEO, Computacenter

In today's season finale Marc gets back in touch with the Group CEO of Computacenter Mike Norris. They catch up at the end of the lockdown (having originally spoken in April) to look at the state of the IT channel and the wider UK economy. Marc and Mike also look at the impact of the governments furlough scheme and what the 'bounce-back' might look like. Marc also discusses the famous Computacenter sales kick offs and the impact of the CC FMES jacket on helping to build a successful cu...

Brian Day, CEO, Fuze

Today Marc has been joined in the virtual studio by the CEO of Fuze; Brian Day. They discuss the changing landscape for his business at Fuze and the future of the workplace with employees in many areas still unable to return to their office locations. They also talk about the future investments the business will be making in other markets and what the outlook is for the short and medium term.

Ross Teague, CEO, RMTH Ltd

Today Marc is joined in the studio by the founder and CEO of RMTH.  Ross is an entrepreneur with a track record of growing business and RMTH is the result of a vision that he has had for many years. RMTH officially started during lockdown, Marc and Ross discuss the business and what challenges he has found starting a business during this uncertain period and what the future plans are for the business going forward.

Richard Betts; CRO, Charterhouse Voice & Data

Today Marc had the pleasure of meeting Richard Betts the Chief Revenue Officer of Charterhouse Voice and Data. They discussed the way Charterhouse responded to lock-down and the way in which they have embraced flexible / home-working practices as a result and how this will become the 'new normal' after lock-down eases. They also discuss the increased opportunities and threats the have arisen during this time and what companies can do to counteract these risks.

Michael Bain, Convergent Technology Ltd

Today Marc has been joined in the virtual studio by one of the Directors from Convergent Technology Ltd. Convergent have been busy planning and executing their expansion both physical (into new offices) and by growing their sales force during this lockdown period. Marc and Michel discuss these plans in more detail as well as what it takes to get ahead in the technology arena.

Citrix Special; Lee Hughes; COO & Darren Finney Vice President, EMEA Partner Sales

Today Marc was joined in the studio by Lee Hughes the COO and Darren Finney the Vice President, EMEA Partner Sales from Citrix. They discuss Citrix's approach to lockdown, how they were well prepared having predicted the crisis in January and the steps they have taken as a business to not only keep their own staff safe but the initiatives that have been put in place to help the partner community in these challenging times.

Lorrin White, Managing Director of Bamboo Technology Group

Today Marc has been joined in the studio by the MD of Bamboo Technology Group; Lorrin White. After recently agreeing to an office move (prior to the Covid-19 pandemic) Lorrin and Marc discuss the impact on the new design as well as the changes needed to continue to run their successful business.

Iain Clack, Regional Leader Client Success, Thomsons Online Benefits

Today Marc has been speaking to Iain Clack from Thomsons Online Benefits. Iain is one of the relatively few people who has secured and started a new position within the lockdown period. Marc and Iain discuss the challenges of recruiting during lockdown and also the nature of employee benefits schemes and how this current crisis is likely to have a fundamental impact on how both employers and employees view their benefits packages. 

Adam Edwards, CEO Telarus

Today Marc has been joined by the CEO of Telarus. Telarus are a privately owned master distributor (master agent) who are growing quickly here in the UK. Marc and Adam discuss the impact on the UK channel and the likely changes ahead for resellers / partners as this business model  becomes more prevalent.

COVID-19, Paul Mclean, Channel Director UK&I, Fujitsu

Today Marc has been joined in the virtual studio by the Channel Sales Director from Fujitsu; Paul Mclean. With the lockdown easing they discuss the way companies will have to change in order to cope with the new guidelines. Also how traditional competitors are now working together more and more in order to deliver the best solution to their customers.

CHANNEL CHAT LIVE - Zane Long / Drew Lydecker / Michael Bains

Today we have the full recording of the LIVE Channel Chat from Friday 29th May. We’ve been ridiculously fortunate to have some of the biggest names in the IT channel join us during lockdown on our live podcast & this time we thought we’d cross the pond 🇺🇸 to get a global take on how COVID-19 has impacted the channel 🌍 Featuring:- - Zane Long ,SVP Global Channel Sales at RingCentral - Drew Lydecker, President & Co-Founder of AVANT Communications - Michael Bain Director at Convergent T...

COVID-19 Perry Roach & Mike Chambers - Netsweeper

Today Marc was joined in the virtual studio by both the CEO and the Regional Sales Manager from Netsweeper, Perry Roach and Mike Chambers. They discuss the important issue of security during lockdown and the features of the Netsweeper solutions that are useful for managing the risks from web based threats.

COVID-19 Jeff McCullough, Global VP Channel Sales; Park Place Technologies

Today Marc was joined in the virtual studio by the Global VP of Channel Sales from Park Place Technologies; Jeff McCullough. They discuss the challenge clients are having, having had to front load their IT spend on unexpected equipment to facilitate home working and the impact this many have on longer term/larger infrastructure projects.

COVID-19 Neil Murphy, Group MD, Bytes Technology Group

Today Marc has been joined by Neil Murphy from Bytes Technology Group. They discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Bytes' plans to float later in 2020 and how impressed Neil has been with the way his staff have adapted to remote working. They also talk about the way the channel has come together to really help end users over come their challenges.

COVID-19 Benjamin Dennehy - The UK's Most Hated Sales Trainer

Marc talks to Benjamin who proclaims to be the 'UK's most hated sales trainer'. They talk about the art of cold calling and why so many people are reluctant to do it in the first place. Benjamin also gives some of his best tips to be more successful in a sales role and why it is only our own limiting beliefs that prevent us from being successful in the first place.

COVID-19, Mark McCormack, Academia, Sales and Marketing Director

Today Marc has been joined in the studio by the Sales and Marketing Director from Academia; Mark McCormack. Although 70% of their business comes from the education sector, Mark mentions that they are beginning to see the green shoots of recovery. They discuss the importance of trust when working from home and the likely way things will change in the future.

COVID-19, John DeLozier, Senior VP Global Channel. 8x8

Marc has been joined in the virtual studio by the Global VP of Channel Sales for 8x8 John DeLozier. John was recently voted 2020 Channel Influencer of the Year and the coveted 2020 CRN Channel Chief.  It was great to get his views on the way the channel has adapted to life under lockdown and particularly how 8x8 has risen to the challenges.   It has been said that the current pandemic has lead to the 'golden age of communications for all of the wrong reasons and John discusses 8x8's appr...

COVID-19, Eamon Moore, CEO Hikari Data Solutions

Today Marc speaks to Eamon Moore from Hiraki Data Solutions. Hikari Data Solutions is a group of dedicated business and technology professionals who provide organisations with solutions that allow them to analyse business data; giving actionable insights, adding value and empowering companies to make better business decisions. They discuss the importance of having a diverse client base and how having an international slant can help as well. Eamon also discusses what he thinks he will h...

CHANNEL CHAT LIVE - Mark Armstrong, Lewis Simmonds, Alex Tatham

Please find the full audio recording of the first of our LIVE EVENTS recorded earlier in May. Featuring Mark and Lewis from HPE and 'friend of the show' MD of Westcoast Alex Tatham. Check out our website www.robertson-sumner.com for details of upcoming live events in the future.

COVID-19, Margaret Adam, AVP European Services @ IDC

Margaret leads 3 analyst teams in Europe: Services, Partnering Ecosystems and SMB/Start-Up. Based in London, she is responsible for driving IDC’s research, innovation and thought leadership agenda on ecosystems within Europe. Marc discusses the impact of lockdown on the market place and what the research shows might happen for the rest of the year.  Margaret also looks at the 'hot-spots' in the industry and where there could be opportunities for partners / vendors to take advantage of.

COVID-19, Scott Murphy, Director, Cloud and Advanced Solutions @ Ingram Micro

Today Marc's guest is Scott Murphy. Scott leads the Ingram Micro Cloud and Advanced Solutions businesses in the UK&I. His sole objective is to evolve the way Ingram brings value to channel around Enterprise Solutions, with the goal of becoming the #1 strategic technology enabler. They talk about the changing demand from the Ingram customer base as well as the way the internal team have adapted to lockdown, including some innovative methods of keeping morale high amongst his team!

COVID-19, Annabel Berry, CEO, Sapphire

Today Marc has been joined by the CEO of security solution provider Annabel Berry. With people working from home a wide variety of security considerations have come into play - Annabel and Marc discuss how to best protect your systems in the current climate. They also talk about recruitment during lockdown and what the employment market might look like post Covid.