Meet the Chiefs: John Ruel, Global Convergence
John Ruel, VP of Channel Sales and Vendor Management at Global Convergence, talks about why true partnerships are vital to the channel, the importance of evolving quickly and the comfort of a personal life driven by service in this week's Meet the Chiefs.
![Meet the Chiefs: John Ruel, Global Convergence Meet the Chiefs: John Ruel, Global Convergence](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/blt1c29e6cc1a7ccad1/6524656c3817f62b74800e8b/Handshake_Abstract_Thinkstock_2_0.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
As GCI’s Vice President of Channel Sales & Vendor Management, John is focused on new vendor acquisition and vendor alliances to enhance GCI’s portfolio of emerging and disruptive technologies. John has over 25 years of experience in technology and IT distribution; prior to GCI he was the Director of Education Sales for CA Technologies, where he led international sales teams to drive education sales and ensure rapid user adoption. John has held numerous positions in the IT industry, including the Director of Product Marketing for Tech Data Corporation, a leading distributor of IT products.
We are always looking to find ways to drive technology that fits the market. Everything is moving at a fast pace and for us, it’s about how do we provide the information and processes to help our partners get new technology faster to their end user customers.
My biggest frustration is with companies that are unwilling to build a true partnership. We provide our customers with world-class products, services and support. We make an investment with our partners and we look for them to do the same in order to build success. Companies that look to build loyalty should be rewarded.
I want to drive more services-centric solutions. Instead of making just a hardware-centric sale, we can provide a complete solution in wraparound services with the sale while using very unique financing options like ITnFusion that enables our partners to finance deals with end-user customers.
New and emerging technologies like software-defined networking (SDN). That provides us with exciting solutions to bring to our customers and add new value to the market. Channel partners rely on distributors like GCI to bring them new, emerging technologies.
Evolve fast with new technologies. Provide complete solutions to your customers, inclusive of services, to help them evolve.
Our ability to provide world-class services, financing, with a hardware sale. In addition, to provide new, emerging innovative technologies that help our partners—and their customers—stay ahead.
That the channel is absolutely necessary. The channel has to run on its own in order to make the entire supply chain more effective. Also, that the channel doesn’t create demand. Manufacturers create demand and we develop innovative, unique ways to help fulfill that demand
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
I’ve been in service my whole life. My family is big into service. I’m a big believer that if you give, you’ll get back in return.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
I’ve been in service my whole life. My family is big into service. I’m a big believer that if you give, you’ll get back in return.
What is Meet the Chiefs?
Meet the Chiefs shines the spotlight on the channel’s head honchos and offers an opportunity to learn a little bit about the person's real thoughts on the state of the channel. Click on each photo to learn more about the channel chief you’re viewing.
Want to be included in an upcoming Meet the Chiefs? Send an email to The VAR Guy Editor-in-Chief Kris Blackmon at [email protected] for more information.
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