Channel Chat Podcast

What does it really take to grow an MSP for more than 20 years? In this episode of Channel Chat, Marc Sumner sits down with Guy Hocking, Managing Director of Utilize PLC, to discuss his journey from infrastructure engineer to leading one of the UK's most respected Managed Service Providers. Guy shares why so many SMBs are still vulnerable to cyber attacks, why Cyber Essentials should be the minimu...

What does it really take to build one of the Middle East's leading technology distributors? In this episode of Channel Chat, Marc Sumner sits down with Mario Veljovic, General Manager of VAD Technologies, to explore his 30-year journey through the IT channel. From selling PC components in the 1990s to helping power some of the region's biggest AI infrastructure projects, Mario shares the lessons h...

In this episode of Channel Chat Dubai, Marc Sumner sits down with Kinda Baydoun, Senior Director at Veeam, to discuss leadership, partnerships, trust, and the future of the IT channel across EMEA. From starting her career at Sun Microsystems to leading one of the industry's most influential channel organisations, Kinda shares the lessons that shaped her journey and why building trust remains the f...

This week, Marc sits down with Steve Shakespeare to unpack the evolution of distribution, the rise of Strategic Growth Solutions, and how Arrow is redefining what a modern channel partnership looks like.  A sharp, honest conversation about transformation, vendor expectations, and the future of value in the channel.  They cover: Why traditional distribution alone isn't enough anymore  How Arrow bec...

Another Dubai Series episode is here and this one might be the most eye opening yet.  Marc sits down with Miguel Duarte, VP at Cybergate, for a fast paced deep dive into cybersecurity, AI adoption, and why the Middle East has become one of the most exciting regions in tech.  From getting hacked on mall Wi-Fi to why 2026 is the year of AI adoption, Miguel breaks down the realities of securing a reg...

In this episode of Channel Chat, Marc Sumner sits down with Andy Venables, CEO of PopX, for a deep dive into ServiceNow, MSP growth, and why the traditional consultancy model might be broken. From starting out on a service desk in London to scaling a global business, Andy shares the journey behind building PopX and the thinking that challenges how MSPs deliver and scale services today.

Marc Sumner sits down in Dubai with Muhammad Ali, Group Ceo of Cyberwaze, for a straight-talk conversation on entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, and the realities of building trust in the Middle East.  Muhammad shares how he walked away from a safe career with no backup, why attackers currently have the upper hand, and what CISOs should be preparing for as we head toward 2026. From AI-driven threats...

Marc Sumner is joined by Justin Griffiths (RVP UK and Ireland) and Lewis Dick (Alliances Director) from Infinigate for a sharp, honest look at how the IT channel is shifting - and what partners must do to stay relevant.  They break down the rise of MSPs, the move toward services-led revenue, and why so many VARs are losing ground to more specialised players. From AI-driven complexity to the talent...

Marc sits down with Neil Burton, VP & GM of EMEA at Coro, for a sharp, honest conversation about the transformation, channel evolution, and the future of cybersecurity across one of the most complex regions in the world.  Neil opens up about his journey from mainframe programmer to running a £500m business, why he thrives in high-change environments, and what the channel keeps getting wrong, and r...

The first Dubai series episode is here! Marc sits down with Amir Ali, CEO of LOGIX, for a fast, honest, and deeply insightful conversation about what it really takes to succeed in Dubai's channel ecosystem. From the pace of doing business to the expectations placed on vendors and partners, Amir breaks down the realities of a marketing thats evolving faster than most people realise.  This episode g...

In this episode of Channel Chat, Marc sits down with Madhu Kejriwal, CEO of TransUnion for UK and Europe, for a wide-ranging conversation on trust, fraud, data, and the role technology is playing in reshaping the global economy.  Madhu shares insights from the front lines of cybersecurity and financial technology, discussing how businesses can safely operate in a world where anyone, anywhere can i...

Lucy Bourne, Director at Oaka Studio, joins Marc for a sharp, honest conversation about how the Microsoft partner ecosystem is evolving - and what partners must do to stay relevant in a market that's shifting fast. She shares her career path, her experience inside Microsoft, and the realities of building and scaling a consultancy in today's channel landscape.  Topics include:  The decline of broar...

In this episode of Channel Chat, host Marc Sumner is joined by Anjana Srinivasan, Commercial Channel Chief at AMD, for a candid, in-person conversation recorded in London.  Anjana shares her journey into tech, lessons from scaling global organisations, and how resilience, curiosity, and credibility have shaped her leadership approach. The discussion explores leading across EMEA's complexity, build...