Eric Gales, the newly appointed Microsoft Canada president, will not take the reigns of the subsidiary until July, but given the reaction from the channel community the wait maybe too long.
CDN asked a select few solution providers from across Canada for their reaction to Gales replacing Phil Sorgen as president. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Jim Heaton, CEO of VoxWireless of Toronto, said he first met Gales just after he arrived from England to Canada and has been dealing with him on a frequent basis ever-since.
“Eric Gales is great to deal with and has a strong knowledge of business software and our customer’s software requirements, and has been of real help and value to us as a Canada’s largest Microsoft Business Partner,” Heaton said.
John Kvasnic, CEO of Navantis, who recently merged with another top Microsoft solution provider in Legend Corp. was ecstatic to find out that someone internal was promoted to the post.
“I’m very exciting that someone from within Microsoft Canada, and with Canadian experience, has been chosen to lead the subsidiary. The Canadian economy is driven by small and medium business. His background and experience is well suited for the role,” Kvasnic said.
From his dealings with Gales, Kvasnic saw an executive who has shown interest and can act upon it to develop models that promote partner growth. “We are looking forward to providing input to the development of such a model and working closely with Gales and his team to leverage the model and utilize components that will contribute to the future success of Navantis and Microsoft,” Kvasnic added.
David MacDonald, CEO of SoftChoice said the new appointment bodes well for the future, but he did not want to forget the past accomplishments of Sorgen.
“I’d like to congratulate Phil Sorgen and thank him for the support he’s shown us. During his tenure, Sorgen demonstrated a very deep commitment to the Canadian marketplace and to understanding the economic challenges facing this country. We look forward to continue working with him as we expand our business in the U.S.,” MacDonald said.
He also extended his company’s congratulations to Gales on his new role.
Elisabeth Vanderveldt, the International Chair for the International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners also said that Sorgen would be sorely missed by the partner community for his positive influence on the overall performance of Microsoft Canada and the partner community.
However, Gales brings that same positive spirit, she said. “I believe in him to be someone who truly understands the depth and breadth of the Microsoft solutions platform,” said Vanderveldt, who is also a vice-president of business development at Conamex International of Montreal, a former CDN Channel Elite Award winner.
“I have seen him extensively engaged with the Microsoft partner community and given the challenges of this new economy he will, with his extensive experience and understanding, lead partners like Conamex to continue to recognize and realize their full potential. I am delighted by Microsoft’s decision,” she added.
One of Microsoft’s more prominent West coast channel partners Habanero Consulting Group of Vancouver also supported the software giant’s decision to promote Gales.
“It’s a real sign that the organization recognizes talent and can take advantages of it,” said Steven Fitzgerald, president of Habanero.
Fitzgerald, along with many other solution providers, has gotten to know Gales professionally since he join the Canadian subsidiary. “I’ve always been very impressed with his ability to balance a detailed understanding of the complexities of the business with a broad, clear-headed perspective and vision. He’s a fantastic person for the role,” Fitzgerald added.
Montreal-based Itergy president Ralph Loewen said his company has been working closely with Gales and the small and mid-market solutions and partners division (SM&P) for a few years already and has found the SM&P division a partner focused organization.
“We have seen a significant improvement in the business development collaboration between the SMS&P team and Itergy, as a Gold partner. We expect to see the same kind of initiatives and improvements in other areas as Gales takes on the role of president for Microsoft Canada,” Loewen said.
Even smaller solution providers from Canada such as WolfBridgeTSS of Mississauga, Ont., weighed in on the Gales appointment. “Eric Gales appointment is good news,” said Eric Rutten, president of WolfBridge. “He’s provided solid leadership in the past and has a keen understanding of customer needs and how Microsoft partners are a key ingredient to meeting those needs. We think this will work well for Microsoft, our customers, and the partner community.”
Gus Harsfai, president and CEO of Ceryx of Toronto was thrilled at the news. “Gales has demonstrated a commitment to the partner community in the U.K. and in Canada. In the process, he has earned the respect of his co-workers and partners. I believe he has earned the position. I’m sure all the partners will join me in welcoming him in his new role,” Harsfai said.
One of Microsoft’s biggest supporters in the channel, CMS Consulting not surprisingly thought the move was ideal.
Brian Bourne, the president of CMS of Toronto said having someone with a close understanding of the partner community will certainly be beneficial, especially for those in the partner eco-system.
“In short, I’m very excited about Gales’s promotion. Sorgen was a great president for Microsoft Canada, but if he is going to move on then I’m very happy to see someone worthy from inside the Canadian operation promoted. As a partner, we’ve had good visibility to the positive changes Gales’s been able to effect managing the partner channel and small/medium business space,” he said.
Bourne expects Gales will leverage his understanding of the small and medium business market to grow Microsoft’s reach in the area through the partner channel.
“Essentially that would mean Microsoft growing their business by helping us (Microsoft partners) grow ours. It’s all good news.”
