Top 9 channel-shaking stories of 2023
From seismic M&A to massive layoffs, these were the biggest channel news events that rocked the industry this year
As 2023 draws to an end, we look at some of the biggest news that shook the channel to its core throughout the year.
Layoffs were one of the biggest news to worry all players in the channel, but big job switches and M&A also came into play.
Here are our top 9 news stories for 2023:
Broadcom announces VMware job cuts
Following its record-breaking acquisition of VMware for $61bn, tech giant Broadcom announced it was planning major layoffs at VMware.
The cuts likely focused on non-engineering roles and could have come as soon as last month.
The news followed a heavily redacted document Broadcom filed with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority arguing that VMware would have failed to execute its multi-cloud strategy on its own.
In the 40-page document, Broadcom made the case that acquiring VMware would have created an organisation capable of competing with dominant cloud providers, something VMware could not have done alone.
Broadcom believed it could have provided VMware the scale and capabilities to reverse its declining market position.
Broadcom aimed to execute the next phases of VMware's growth strategy that VMware had so far failed to achieve independently.
VMware declined to comment on the pending cuts.
Read on for the biggest acquisitions, job moves and launches that the channel reacted to this year...
Top 9 channel-shaking stories of 2023
From seismic M&A to massive layoffs, these were the biggest channel news events that rocked the industry this year
New eBuyer owners predict 'significant growth' after acquisition
Technology e-tailer eBuyer, which reported £241m in revenue in 2021, was acquired from West Retail Group by investors Mark Reed and Rich Marsden for an undisclosed sum earlier this year.
Marsden became CEO, with EU expansion on the table.
The deal reunited Reed and Marsden after a partnership dating back to 1999.
In 2005, Reed also founded 100-employee gaming and tech marketing agency Heaven Media.
After a 19-year ownership, West Retail Group sold 15th-ranked Top VAR eBuyer, which employs over 200 staff.
Marsden said he had worked with eBuyer his whole career and knew Reed was the one person he trusted to help deliver the deal.
Reed added the acquisition felt like a natural next step after 29 years in the industry.
He said eBuyer had huge growth potential and they aimed to expand into the EU while developing gaming and PC offerings.
Reed said the trust between them would drive significant eBuyer growth.
eBuyer generated less than a quarter of West Retail Group's £1.2bn 2021 revenues.
All eBuyer assets and staff remained with the business.
Top 9 channel-shaking stories of 2023
From seismic M&A to massive layoffs, these were the biggest channel news events that rocked the industry this year
Dell channel chief Shields joins Computacenter
After 15 years, popular Dell EMEA channel leader Sarah Shields left to join IT services giant Computacenter, Dell's largest EMEA partner, as group alliance director.
Shields joined Computacenter in April as part of a wider leadership revamp which included the promotions of John Beard to Western Europe MD and Lieven Bergmans to CCO.
Shields spent 15 years at Dell, most recently as VP of Central and North Europe channel.
Computacenter CEO Mike Norris said Computacenter knew Shields well from her long-term work with them.
Sources emphasised Shields' departure was unrelated to Dell layoff reports, noting she had been working her notice since an announcement in early January.
With Computacenter as Dell's top EMEA partner, the move was dubbed "perfect".
The changes came as veteran Computacenter CFO Tony Conophy also prepared to retire later this year, marking, alongside Shields' exit, big shifts for the company.
Top 9 channel-shaking stories of 2023
From seismic M&A to massive layoffs, these were the biggest channel news events that rocked the industry this year
Atos sold Spanish logistics software firm to French VAR Hardis
Among the many Atos news this year, one of the biggest was the French reseller selling its Spanish logistics software business Sislog to French VAR Hardis Group, two months after selling its global UCC division to Mitel.
The deal was part of Atos' plan to divest €700m in "non-strategic assets" by end-2022 to balance its books.
The Sislog sale marked the fifth business unit Atos has sold or closed amid its "Transformation Journey".
An Atos spokesperson said the divestment plan was 80 per cent complete after just eight months.
Atos was also recently rumoured to be spinning out its cybersecurity and big data division.
Hardis said buying Sislog, founded in 1998, would give it a leading position in Spain.
Hardis managing director Yvan Coutaz said Sislog would accelerate its Iberian and South American growth.
Sislog had 100 warehouse management customers in Spain/Portugal and South America.
With Sislog's 60 employees, Hardis Iberia would grow to 75 staff.
Hardis said Sislog's solution would complement its portfolio and let it serve SMEs to multinationals in Spain.
Later in the year, Atos also announced during a business update that chairman Bertrand Meunier was to step down.
The board said it had appointed Jean Pierre Mustier as new non-executive chairman and Laurent Collet-Billon as vice-chairman.
Meunier said Atos' governance had been strengthened on his watch before handing the reins to Mustier to lead the fundamental transformation alongside the recently appointed CEO and CFO.
Top 9 channel-shaking stories of 2023
From seismic M&A to massive layoffs, these were the biggest channel news events that rocked the industry this year
Ingram launches AI-powered platform to 'consumerise distribution'
This year, Ingram Micro launched its AI-powered, self-learning Xvantage platform in the UK, saying it would make interacting with the distributor similar to browsing Netflix.
Xvantage, unveiled in the US and Germany last September, went live for UK resellers.
Global chief digital officer Sanjib Sahoo said Xvantage was not just a website but an intelligent, self-learning ecosystem.
Its personalised recommendations would provide a Netflix-like experience, showing different products to different resellers.
Sahoo emphasised Xvantage was not an e-commerce platform but a complete, automated data mesh leveraging years of business data to make every interaction meaningful.
Ingram invested $550m in Xvantage's CloudBlue foundation and brought in talent from top tech firms.
Partners said they felt Xvantage could set Ingram apart.
Top 9 channel-shaking stories of 2023
From seismic M&A to massive layoffs, these were the biggest channel news events that rocked the industry this year
Neil Sawyer leaves Lenovo after 14 months
Well-known industry figure Neil Sawyer departed Lenovo after 14 months as UK managing director and general manager.
Sawyer, who previously led HP's UK channel for six years, joined Lenovo in December 2021.
In a statement, Sawyer said he had decided to take a break and spend more time with family, leaving Lenovo on good terms.
He thanked his UK&I team for their efforts and achievements.
Lenovo COO and former UK GM Preben Fjeld would lead the team on an interim basis, Lenovo confirmed.
The vendor thanked Sawyer for his contribution across the UK and Ireland.
Sawyer was named CRN's Channel Chief of the Year in 2018 and 2020 based on glowing partner feedback.
One stunned partner boss called Sawyer "one of the channel's good guys" and said it was a shame he would not see through positive UK changes he had already set in motion.
But the partner expressed confidence Sawyer would return to the industry soon.
Top 9 channel-shaking stories of 2023
From seismic M&A to massive layoffs, these were the biggest channel news events that rocked the industry this year
RingCentral CEO Robbiati departs, founder Shmunis returns
Cloud communications vendor RingCentral and CEO Tarek Robbiati mutually agreed to part ways just over a year after his appointment as chief exec.
Founder and former CEO Vlad Shmunis returned to replace Robbiati.
RingCentral said Robbiati's resignation was unrelated to any company disagreements or issues.
Lead independent director Rob Theis said having one leader overseeing all aspects of the company was best.
As longtime CEO, Shmunis oversaw RingCentral's growth from inception to over $2.2bn in revenue.
The board said it was confident in Shmunis' ability to deliver further value.
Shmunis said RingCentral was at a critical inflection point where product and innovation strategy must drive everything.
He expressed confidence in leading sustainable, profitable growth rooted in RingCentral's values.
Top 9 channel-shaking stories of 2023
From seismic M&A to massive layoffs, these were the biggest channel news events that rocked the industry this year
Tatham returns to Westcoast as executive director after year at NSC
Alex Tatham went back to Westcoast as executive director after a year as head of global clients and marketing at NSC Global.
Tatham said he left Westcoast, where he previously rose to MD, because he felt he needed a "refreshing break".
But he decided to return to pursue exciting new initiatives at founder Joe Hemani's request.
Tatham called his NSC experience fascinating for learning about services, partners and large accounts from the vendor perspective.
He planned to bring a services culture and focus on major project clients to Westcoast.
In his new role, Tatham aimed to expand products, customers and vendors, including via Westcoast's merger with German distributor KOMSA.
He also wanted to strengthen Westcoast's voice with partners.
Key opportunities he identified included unified comms, MSPs and networking.
He hoped to deepen ties with vendors like HP, Aruba and Juniper while starting a Cisco relationship.
Top 9 channel-shaking stories of 2023
From seismic M&A to massive layoffs, these were the biggest channel news events that rocked the industry this year
Cisco launches channel programme allowing customers to defer payments
Cisco launched a programme allowing customers to defer payments for new products/solutions bought before 29 July 2023 until 2024.
The Cisco Capital Business Acceleration Programme provides partners another flexible customer payment option amid macroeconomic uncertainty.
All Cisco solutions are eligible, including hardware, software, services, partner services and third-party hardware.
Cisco certified refurbished products also qualify. Cisco said this would help organisations acquire competitively priced, ready-to-ship hardware.
"Our goal is to provide payment options allowing continuous technology investment while minimizing cash outlays," said Cisco Capital SVP Kristine Snow.
"Customer success is our priority.
"The new programme will help address pressing customer concerns."
The deferral programme comes a month after Cisco announced investments to address another channel concern - the tech talent shortage.
In March, Cisco launched a training programme with Manchester's Multiverse start-up to help partners upskill and meet staffing demand.