Channel Chat

In this episode of Channel Chat, host Marc Sumner sits down in London with Mit Patel, Founder and CEO of Assurix, to discuss building, scaling, and exiting an MSP - and why he decided to start all over again.  Mit shares the real story behind founding a business at 20, the painful lessons of scaling, and what founders often get wrong about hiring, leadership and sales. The conversation also explores cybersecurity risk, raising standards in the MSP space, and how the next wave of platforms and AI-driven software could reshape the industry.  In this episode: Starting a company young and learning by doing The toughest lessons in scaling an MSP  When to step back from owner-led sales What selling a business is really like Why cybersecurity standards and trust matter more than ever Building talent and developing future leaders Industry trends to watch in the next 3-5 years A must-listen for MSP owners, IT channel professionals, and anyone interested in building and scaling a technology business. 

In this episode of Channel Chat, Mark Sumner is joined by Rob Harris, Sales Director for Software at SCC, recorded in London. Rob shares his journey from studying English Literature to leading software sales at one of the UK's largest partners. We discuss career progression in sales, moving from individual contributor to leadership, and why putting yourself forward can change everything. Key topics include: • Breaking into tech and software sales • Progressing from account manager to sales leader • Leading high-performing sales teams • How software buying has changed • Adding value beyond price and transactions • Why hyperscale marketplaces are one to watch in 2026 A must-listen for anyone in sales, software, or the channel.

In this Channel Chat episode, Marc Sumner sits down with Tom Hockton, VP of BMC Helix UK & Ireland, to talk career growth, leadership, and channel strategy. Tom shares how he went from studying languages and working at Shanghai Radio to leading one of the most channel-driven enterprise software businesses in the UK.

In this episode, Marc Sumner sits down with Lewis Pope, one of the Head Nerds at Enable, to explore the evolving world of cybersecurity, Reseller and MSP challenges, and what it really means to build cyber resilience in 2025 and beyond.

In this episode, Marc Sumner sits down with Paul Hamilton, Founder & CEO of Halo, one of the UK's fastest-growing software companies — and the second most valuable privately-owned software company in the country.

In this episode of Channel Chat, host Marc Sumner sits down with Julian Brown-O-Davies, Global VP of Security Services at Bugcrowd, for an in-depth conversation on cyber innovation, leadership, and the evolving world of offensive security.

This week Marc sits down with James Anderson, Channel Director (International) at Abnormal AI. From starting out as a biochemistry graduate and aspiring rugby pro, James has built a career shaping channel strategies across Trend, Quest, Ivanti, Exabeam – and now Abnormal.

This week Marc Sumner sat down with Dan Smith, CEO of Astralis, to talk about his journey from sales leadership at Blancco to running Astralis, and the lessons he's carried along the way. They covered a lot of ground, including: • The importance of winning hearts and minds in leadership – not just giving orders. • Why sales directors should keep their toe in the game and stay relevant. • How Astralis was born out of an “exit → retirement → back to business” story. • The challenges (and opportunities) of working with channel partners in IT asset disposal (ITAD). • The real role of ESG and sustainability in customer decisions. • Where the market is heading: vendors, resellers, and lifecycle partners.

Recorded live at Samsung KX, London, Channel Chat Live brought together 250+ C-suite execs and senior leaders from across the UK IT Channel for an evening of unfiltered debate, insights and networking. In Part 2, host Marc Sumner and our all-star panel — Neil Hall, Aine Rogers, Lyndsey Charlton, and Alistair Wildman — take questions directly from the audience and dive even deeper into the issues shaping the Channel. Huge thanks again to our sponsors Arrow Cloud UK & Ireland, Check Point Software, and Cameo for powering the after party.

Recorded live at Samsung KX, London, Channel Chat Live brought together 250+ senior leaders, business owners and C-suite execs from across the UK IT Channel for an evening of debate, insights and networking. Host Marc Sumner was joined on stage by an all-star panel – Neil Hall, Aine Rogers, Lyndsey Charlton, and Alistair Wildman – tackling the big questions shaping the Channel. A huge thank you to our sponsors – Arrow Cloud UK & Ireland, Check Point Software, and Cameo for powering the after party. Don't miss Part 2 for more insights and audience Q&A.

Channel Chat Podcast | Gavin Bell, CEO of Econocom — From CC “Boomerang” to Building a UK Solutions Business Recorded in London (yes, during a tube strike!), Marc sits down with Gavin Bell to unpack: Why he “boomeranged” back to Computacenter and what cultural fit really means Overlay vs. solution sales — and why the label “overlay” winds him up Moving into his first CEO role at Econocom and integrating the Trams acquisition Differentiation: solutions + lifecycle services + in-house financing (not just “another reseller”) Pragmatic AI: better service & scale (bids, service desk) — not headcount cuts Ageism, reskilling at 50+, and why experience still matters 2025 outlook: services growth, UK brand building, and who to watch (Gavin's pick: NVIDIA)

Join Marc Sumner in the studio with Maz Lopez, Senior Channel Marketing Manager at AMD and one of our valued podcast partners. From hospital radio to the heart of tech marketing, Maz shares her journey and insights on: • How storytelling and partner collaboration bring AMD's products to life • The importance of relationship-building in a competitive tech landscape • Using AI to supercharge marketing — from crafting job specs to automating lead nurturing • Tracking ROI with data intelligence to prove marketing's impact on sales • The challenge and opportunity of account-based marketing across diverse regions

The Big Picture with David Weeks... “Why aren't you marketing your business that way?”   David Weeks didn't hold back at Empower 25 — and neither did he on Channel Chat.   In this upcoming episode, David talks: → Why cross-collaboration beats competition → The death of ‘just reselling' → And the announcement of Empower 2026 in Fort Lauderdale!

Welcome to Channel Chat LIVE 2025 – Part 2!  The conversation continues from Samsung KX with even more industry insight, big opinions, and future-focused thinking. In Part 2, we dive deeper into the evolving role of AI and Cyber in the Channel — from talent strategies to customer expectations, and what leaders need to prioritise right now to stay competitive.  Featuring more must-hear moments from our expert panel: Hayley Mooney, Paula Panarra, Des Lekerman and Chelsea Chamberlin. Hosted by Marc Sumner & Proudly sponsored by Infinigate UK & Ireland. Ready to find out what's next for the Channel? Hit play and join the debate. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Channel Chat content!

Welcome to Channel Chat LIVE 2025 – Part 1! Broadcast live from Samsung KX, Channel Chat LIVE brought together the biggest names in the Channel for an evening of bold conversations around AI, Cyber, and the future of the industry. In Part 1, you'll hear from our incredible panel: Hayley Mooney, Paula Panarra, Des Lekerman and Chelsea Chamberlin. Expect real insights, lively debates, and fresh perspectives on how AI and Cyber are reshaping the Channel — and what businesses need to do to stay ahead. Hosted by Marc Sumner | Proudly sponsored by Infinigate UK & Ireland. Hit play and join the conversation — and don't forget to check out Part 2 for even more unmissable moments!

Today in the Channel Chat studio Marc Sumner is joined by Nick Crouch, Director - EMEA & APAC Channel & Alliances @ AppOmni

In this valentine's day special, Marc is joined in the studio by Kathryn Bennett the Channel Director from Dataminr.

Today Marc is joined in the studio by the Managing Director of Bytes Software Services, Jack Watson.

Today Marc Sumner is joined in the Channel Chat studio by the Channel Marketing Director at XM Cyber, Lucy Greenaway.

Today in the Channel Chat studio Marc meets up with the CEO of Transputec, Sonny Sehgal.