Watch Now: OpenText’s Paul Balkwell on why the Channel Awards matter and the trends shaping EMEA partners

OpenText’s VP of EMEA Sales, Paul Balkwell, shares why the Channel Awards remain a cornerstone of the UK IT channel calendar, what inspired the company’s sponsorship this year, and the key partner trends he’s seeing across the region.

The Channel Awards have long stood as a rare moment in the calendar where the UK channel pauses to celebrate its own. For Paul Balkwell, VP of EMEA Sales at OpenText, that’s precisely what makes the event worth supporting.

In this video Q&A, Balkwell discusses why OpenText chose to sponsor the 2025 Channel Awards and what it means for the company’s growing partner ecosystem. He also reflects on the importance of recognising collaboration and excellence at a time when partners are playing an ever-larger role in enabling customer transformation.

From evolving partner models to the accelerating impact of AI and data-driven automation, Balkwell highlights the trends reshaping how vendors and partners go to market together. He outlines how OpenText is working with partners to help customers modernise their information management and security frameworks, and why the ability to combine technical depth with trusted relationships will define success in the year ahead.

Watch the full conversation in the video above to hear Balkwell’s insights on the state of the channel.

This article is sponsored by OpenText