The inaugural European Channel Leadership Forum (ECLF) will take place in just ten days, but it is an event with a difference, explains CRN editor Doug Woodburn
If you could design your perfect industry event, what would it look like?
That's the question we posed 15 top reseller execs at the start of this year to help us build the content for our inaugural European Channel Leadership Forum (ECLF).
What you told us has guided every element of the event.
You told us you wanted to hear from CIOs on what they love - and what they loathe - in their IT suppliers.
You wanted to hear an informed debate on the challenges and opportunities posed by the looming General Data Protection Regulation.
You also wanted to be given a high-level steer on the economy, and to hear more about the channel plans of the industry's most disruptive player, whose revenue runrate has gone from zero to $16bn in a little more than a decade: Amazon Web Services.
Most of all, you wanted an event where you could network with your industry peers in a vendor-neutral setting.
We took this wish-list to heart for the ECLF, which has the unusual merit of being crafted with help from the top reseller, MSP and SI executives it is aimed at.
We will be seeking even deeper feedback from our readers on the content for future years as the ECLF grows.
Speaking from experience, it is always tough to convince busy reseller executives to take time out their schedules. With the ECLF, we have worked hard to ensure the content is tailored to your needs, and we hope it will prove of genuine value to anyone who attends.
Andy Gass, UK & Ireland managing director at Tech Data, which is the Exclusive Distribution Sponsor for the event, said: "Creating a conference that focuses on the channel's biggest challenges for the future, as perceived by the individuals facing these challenges, is going to make for an exciting agenda. One of these big challenges we all face is the creation of a strategy for the digital age and how the channel dynamics will operate in this new environment and at Tech Data we are excited by this transformation; I'm looking forward to discussing our thoughts with the leaders attending this event."
Shaun Lynn, CEO at Agilitas, a Vendor Showcase Sponsor for the event, said: "Agiltas are excited to be part of the inaugural European Channel Leadership Forum. This senior leadership event comes at a time when channel businesses are entering a time of disruption across the industry. As firms look to understand their position in this ever-changing market CEOs and MDs are being increasingly reminded of how they need to innovate in order to ensure their proposition remains relevant to their target audiences. This event provides the perfect platform for business leaders to take some time out of their busy schedule to share insight, understand trends, and collaborate at a strategic level with some of the industry's most influential leaders."
The full agenda for the event, which takes place at the May Fair hotel on 5 -6 September, can be viewed here.
