Why I'm backing Pure Storage's Gary Matson for Channel Chief of the Year

Pure Storage's EMEA channel boss deserves to walk away with Channel Chief award on 14 November, according to Proact's Andy Emmett

I want to nominate Gary Matson, Director of Channel Sales EMEA Core at Pure Storage, for Channel Chief of the Year.

Firstly, Gary truly understands both his role in the channel and the channel itself. He helps Proact drive business alongside Pure Storage, making our relationship a true partnership between the two organisations. He always wants to help both parties and put others before himself.

Pure Storage has an excellent evangelist in Gary, and he's a great individual to be at the forefront of the channel model for the company. He embodies what Pure Storage is trying to take to its partners: he wants to be in a successful partnership, and he wants the best for us as an organisation, which is very reassuring.

Gary knows how to bring the right people in from the wider team to help us as an organisation. Whether it's someone from the account management team or the technical team, he'll bring them in to support and educate us where needed. With his knowledge and experience, he's able to use his view of the whole business and provide the behaviours he feels we can utilise.

Gary is honest and happy to have difficult conversations where necessary. His openness means he's good at dealing with conflict. He's able to leave emotion out of discussions and understand our viewpoint at all times. I can't fault his professionalism.

Pure Storage is a relatively new vendor compared to some of the competitors in the marketplace, so for Gary to essentially create a new partner landscape in the UK - and now across Europe - and succeed through delivering revenue streams, is impressive! That's what, for me, will set him apart from other candidates nominated in this category.

Andy Emmett is UK vendor manager at Proact

Gary Matson has been shortlisted for CRN Channel Chief of the Year along with HP's Neil Sawyer and Dell's Rob Tomlin.

The winner will be announced at the CRN Channel Awards on 15 November.

As the only 'people's choice' award at the Channel Awards, the winner will be selected by our audience. If you work for a partner company of any of the three finalists, please email [email protected] and [email protected] and tell us who you think deserves to win.