Software boss shows channel love with English Channel swim

ConnectWise chief executive Arnie Bellini will attempt to swim the English Channel to prove dedication to his UK partners

A US channel chief executive is aiming to prove his love for the UK IT channel by attempting to swim the English Channel.

Arnie Bellini, 53, of US software vendor ConnectWise, has been in training for about 20 months to complete the gruelling 21-mile swim from Dover to Calais, which will take place tomorrow depending on conditions.

Bellini, who trained in open water to adjust to the temperature, shared his Florida training lake with alligators, which he insisted were not dangerous.

The three-time Iron Man competitor – a contest which comprises a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle followed by a marathon run – co-founded his Florida-based software company more than 30 years ago, and is opening its European headquarters in London later this year.

Bellini will be among a select few over-50s to swim the Channel and is bidding to raise money for UK charity Computers for Charities.

He told ChannelWeb: "We are opening our UK office soon and what better way to prove our commitment to the channel by swimming the channel!

"We are really focused on the channel, we service it and only sell to channel firms.

"It is a real Richard Branson-type thing, if you will. I thought if anyone can understand why I chose to do this, the British will!"

Arnie Bellini, chief executive of ConnectWise, training Tampa, Florida.