Keepit’s Chris Braden and Simon Thomas Named as 2022 CRN® Channel Chief
Distinguished cybersecurity services leaders recognized for innovative channel programs and commitment to company
DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX – February 7, 2022 – Keepit, the market leader in cloud backup and recovery, and the world’s only independent vendor-neutral and blockchain-based cloud dedicated to SaaS data protection, announces that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Simon Thomas, Keepit’s Vice President of Global Partners and Alliances and Chris Braden, Vice President of Sales and Channels for the Americas, to its 2022 Channel Chiefs list. CRN’s annual Channel Chiefs project identifies top IT channel vendor executives who continually demonstrate expertise, influence and innovation in channel leadership.
A panel of CRN editors selected the honorees for their channel dedication, industry stature and accomplishments as channel advocates. The 2022 Channel Chiefs are influential leaders who continue to shape the IT channel with innovative strategies, programs and partnerships.
"We are so proud that two of our company leaders have been recognized by CRN as Channel Chief. Both Simon and Chris are valued and inspiring members of the Keepit team,” said Søren Lindkvist, Senior VP of Global Sales. “With their experience and guidance, Simon and Chris have played a significant part in Keepit’s explosive success and growth in 2021. Their contributions, not only to Keepit but to the entire channel community, make them remarkably qualified to appear on the Channel Chiefs list along with these other illustrious leaders."
As a software company specializing in cloud data backup and recovery for SaaS, Keepit has more than 20 years of experience in building best-in-class data protection services at scale. As COVID accelerated the shift to a remote workforce, that shift contributed globally to growth and reliance on the cloud and presented Keepit and its partners with a unique opportunity to offer the company’s solution, which ensures that cloud-based data is safe and secure.
In addition to being a veteran sales and channel executive, Chris Braden is a three-time Channel Chief recipient, having been named to the list previously in 2019 and 2021. When he joined Keepit in 2021, Braden brought more than 20 years of experience building, leading, and executing successful programs around the world. In his current role as Vice President of Sales and Channels for the Americas, he is responsible for Keepit’s North and South American channel program, overseeing strategic partner recruitment, revenue expansion, and growth with current partners through an improved enablement program.
Over the past year he established a brand-new channel program for North and South America to support Keepit’s partner-first strategy. This involved hiring and onboarding a sales team in addition to a team of channel managers. Braden also oversaw program and process definition and development; recruited, signed, and onboarded 75 new partners; and was responsible for 100% growth of funnel, bookings and revenue in North and South America across all four products. Additionally, for a new original equipment manufacturer partner, Braden assigned a dedicated resource to foster the development of a granular and focused go-to-market strategy for the partnership, including development and definition of an enablement program that includes testing and certification.
"I'm honored to be recognized by CRN as a Channel Chief, and I appreciate that this was only possible because of the support and talent of the innovative team at Keepit," said Braden. "Thanks to the company’s standalone solution and the very encouraging early response from our phenomenal customers and partners, Keepit is looking forward to exponential growth in 2022, and I am excited to be a part of that."
Seasoned sales and channel executive Simon Thomas brings more than 18 years of experience building, leading, and executing successful programs globally to Keepit when he joined the company in 2021. In his current role as vice president of Global Partners and Alliances, he is responsible for Keepit’s global channel program and teams, overseeing strategy and go to market.
"I am thrilled to be selected by CRN to be on its 2022 Channel Chiefs list, and excited to be a part of the incredible Keepit team,” said Thomas. “The biggest challenge facing our partners is identifying the right solutions for their portfolio as they pivot to deal with the shift to working in a more remote or hybrid environment. To succeed in 2022, partners need increased focus on both sales and technical enablement, and Keepit is looking to foster both. By investing in supporting our partners, Keepit anticipates incredible growth for itself and the companies it serves and supports."
To bolster its partner-centered focus, Keepit plans to invest significantly in a formal, structured and well-defined MDF program for partners. The program will be available to all partners that achieve gold or platinum status in Keepit’s tiered medallion program, and partners will have the option to leverage regional marketing support to drive deeper collaboration and success.
Under Thomas’s leadership, Keepit’s focus on positioning partners to provide dedicated, cost-effective data protection has proven to be highly successful and is crucial in creating a class-leading, global program to enable Keepit’s partner-first strategy
“CRN’s 2022 Channel Chiefs recognition is given exclusively to the foremost channel executives who consistently design, promote, and execute effective partner programs and strategies,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “We’re thrilled to recognize the tireless work and unwavering commitment these honorees put into fostering outstanding business innovation and building strong partner programs to drive channel engagement and success.”
CRN’s 2022 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2022 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs.