John DeLozier on New Job at ConvergeOne, Post-Exit from ScanSource-Intelisys
Find out what DeLozier said when we asked him about his exit from ScanSource/Intelisys.
![John DeLozier new job at ConvergeOne John DeLozier new job at ConvergeOne](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/blt6d129c9b847c66a0/6537c7f703e963f80d109d9f/New-Job.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Marta Design/Shutterstock
Channel Futures: Would you say being a sales leader is in your DNA?
ConvergeOne’s John DeLozier: In my past lives, I was probably a CRO before it was even called that — when I look back at my career at places like Cross Telecom and Arrow. But even as a channel leader you are leading a sales organization. It allows me to do what I love. Take the sales organization to another level.
CF: You are succeeding D. Robert Martin, a sales executive with a rich sales history, who is retiring.
JD: D. Martin’s retirement opened the door for me. He paved the way for the next level and next steps, and that is where I am focused. Today is my official first day on the job and D will be here through the end of October to help with the transition. I have been off for a month so it is good that he will be available as needed.
CF: We know it is early, but what do you see going forward with the company?
JD: Going forward you will absolutely see an expansion into cloud communications. Our IP is in something we call C1 CX/Conversation. This is our own platform that brings the best of collaboration and UC together. It represents a purposeful focus on cloud communications where C1 has been, but we see an opportunity to emphasize our own IP. It is a best-in-breed technology delivered around collaboration, UC and CC that is secure. Why is that important? Because it represents the business outcomes we can bring as a solution provider. You will see a lot of our customers transition to that as it’s a very big push for us.
CF: So you are going back to your roots, although it has been a while since you were a channel partner.
JD: It feels like a new pair or high-tech shoes but comfortable ones since this is a a place I have worn them before. They are just a little different now. It is like coming home for me because this is how I started. I now get to go back to where it all began, but have been pulled into an organization with scale.
CF: ConvergeOne was once known as a strong Avaya and Cisco partner. Is that the case today?
JD: They are among our biggest partners, but we have a wider supplier portfolio than we previously had with Palo Alto Networks, Juniper and many others. The real push will be utilizing those suppliers around cloud services going forward.
CF: Tell us about your customers.
JD: We have had a strong focus on the Fortune 100 and Fortune 500. We will definitely push into the midmarket space while still focusing on our enterprtise customers — obviously. Enterprise is what brought us to the dance. But you will also see a big focus on inside sales and public sector. They are all important and build on each other.
CF: You are in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area and your boss is there as well. That must feel good.
JD: I knew [CEO] Jeffrey [Russell] before this opportunity, but yes, it is a pleasure to have your CEO and boss 30 minutes away. This is the first time I have had the person I worked for in the state of Florida. Who doesn’t want to do a leadership meeting in Florida in January? The fact he lives close and I have known him through other business that touches C1 makes this even more comfortable.
CF: We have not spoken to you since leaving ScanSource. Any thoughts on that organization?
JD: I want to make sure I honor Intelisys and ScanSource and wish them nothing but the best. I really enjoyed my time there.
CF: We have not spoken to you since leaving ScanSource. Any thoughts on that organization?
JD: I want to make sure I honor Intelisys and ScanSource and wish them nothing but the best. I really enjoyed my time there.
After departing ScanSource’s Intelisys division in late August, channel leader John DeLozier on Monday was named ConvergeOne (C1) chief revenue officer, where he will oversee the sales strategy for an organization that brings IT, communications and collaboration solutions to enterprise customers. We caught up with DeLozier on his first day on the job, where he answered questions about his role, the company and going back to his roots.
Channel Futures: We hear there is an interesting history between ConvergeOne and your start in the business.
ConvergeOne’s John DeLozier
John DeLozier: Yes, they bought my old company. As a senior in college, I started a company called ACT, which was doing contact center integration. Through a series of acquisitions that involved ConvergeOne, Arrow and others, my old company was in there. Someone inside C1 reminded me of that and actually got my original phone number.
CF: Tell us about your CEO, Jeffrey Russell, and his vision for the company.
Here’s our list of channel people on the move in August. |
JD: Jeffrey has a clear vision for C1 and that vision is to enhance the human experience through business outcomes. We are really a solution provider. We are not a managed service provider, but we have great managed services. We are not a VAR, but bring great value-add to our customers. We want to focus on bringing on business outcomes for human experience. This company services the Fortune 100 and their reach is vast. They have touched almost every supplier I have worked for in a big way. Jeffrey’s experience is not only global but laced with success.
CF: What does that really mean in terms of business outcomes for the human experience?
JD: Traditionally, in the channel, whether you sell hardware, software or services, it is like all of those things you bring to a customer get put into buckets. Over the past decade, most companies stay in those buckets they were told to stay in. That is where we are different. We are a complete solution provider focused on cloud, security and the network, among others. We want it to be a complete experience that hits the outcomes the customer wants.
CF: That makes sense, so this seems the perfect role for you at this time in your career.
JD: It really is well suited for me. C1 has gone through lots of acquisitions. If there is any talent that I have, it is all about relationship building, and relationships, period — building a team purpose-built for business that is motivated and culturally knit together and outperforms everyone else is really what I and bring to the company.
See the slideshow above for much more of DeLozier’s comments on his history, his plans for ConvergeOne — and what he has to say about ScanSource and Intelisys now that he has moved on.
Want to contact the author directly about this story? Have ideas for a follow-up article? Email Bob DeMarzo or connect with him on LinkedIn. |
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like