Meet Channel Futures’ 2023 Channel Influencers, EMEA
We’re putting the most important list of channel leaders in the industry on an international stage.
March 29, 2023
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Margaret Adam
Strategic Industry Marketer
Margaret Adam spent 13 years influencing firms’ go-to-market and channel strategies at IDC. After a period at as senior partner marketing lead at Tableau, she now considering new opportunities.
“I think influence comes in multiple formats,” she explained. “Something I did when I was an analyst was being really the voice of partners. Voice of partners into customers, towards the partners into vendors. And being able to articulate the value that partners provide and how important they are, in terms of your strategy.”
Ghazal Asif
Vice President of Global Partners & Alliances
Rubrik
“Sometimes, there’s no substitute for hard work.”
That’s according to Ghazal Asif, who runs Rubrik’s global channel strategy
“Sometimes we focus and obsess over this idea of work-life balance,” she explained. “Sometimes you just have to make the conscious decision that at some moment in your life, your work is your priority. Another moment in your life, your home life is your priority. And over time, those priorities change.”
Celine Cazali
UKI Chief Partner Officer
SAP
Celine Cazali is excited to be part of a community helping to shape the channel. But she also recognises that nobody can do it alone — even as an influencer. “This is all about collaboration and having a clear vision and sense of direction,” she said.
The 13-year SAP veteran believes influence is all about inspiring people to join you on a journey. “It is about instilling trust and a sense of purpose with authenticity.”
Elisabeth De Dobbeleer
Vice President, EMEA Global Partner Organization
Cisco
For the duration of Elisabeth De Dobbeleer’s career at Cisco, she has worked with partners. But this was transported to a grand stage when she assumed leadership of the vendor’s EMEA partner organization in 2020.
Originally from Belgium where she is currently based, De Dobbeleer said working directly with partners has been a source of growth for her, both professionally and personally. “Especially now, as we are in the age of the partner, I believe we can really make a difference together,” she said.
Stuart Fenton
Chair
Akari
Having sold Quantiq to Avanade in 2021, Stuart Fenton recently acquired Glasgow-based partner Akari Solutions.
In Fenton’s view there are “an awful lot of people who are incredibly noisy, who have either little or a lot to say, but there’s no content within it.
“For me, a channel influencer would be someone who has been successful in the channel, probably in a leadership position and is known for making a difference. In fact, the people with the greatest potential to influence often don’t, and the people with the least to say often talk loads.”
Jason Howells
Vice President of International Sales
Barracuda MSP
Jason Howells is responsible for MSP revenues and business strategy Internationally at Barracuda Networks. He said it’s inspiring to be seen as an influencer, given the fast pace of change in the channel.
“We’re all trying to move forward and make sure that we’re doing the best for our customers,” he said. “To be seen as an influencer whilst that change is going on, and helping to be part of that change, is an exciting prospect.”