Exclusive Q&A with Intelisys President John DeLozier: Joining ScanSource ‘My Dream Job’

John DeLozier is bringing experience from all across the channel to his new position at ScanSource and Intelisys.

ScanSource last week announced the hiring of DeLozier as the president of Intelisys. As a result, DeLozier left his three-year position as 8×8’s senior vice president of global channel sales. Now he’ll oversee Intelisys’ relationships with sales partners and suppliers, in addition to marketing, operations and growth.

Intelisys’ John DeLozier

DeLozier promised a revamped loyalty program and a flexible approach to different partner types.

“We are going to meet partners where they are,” he told Channel Futures.

DeLozier also talked about what it was like partnering with Intelisys from the supplier side. He led CenturyLink’s channel program in addition to 8×8’s channel program, and both jobs put him in direct contact with the Intelisys team. Now he’ll be looking to fine-tune Intelisys’ supplier experience in addition to the experience of its sales partners.

John DeLozier sat down virtually with Channel Futures for an exclusive Q&A about his plans for Intelisys. We have edited the transcript for clarity.

Channel Futures: What made you join Intelisys?

John DeLozier: I have a very long-standing relationship with ScanSource and Intelisys, both before they were joined, and certainly after. And you’ll appreciate this. I know you’ve written so much on millennials. Well, back in those days, you could have written about the young Gen Xers like me. Twenty-five years old at the time, walking through this building and just in awe of ScanSource. Specifically Mike Baur, who back then revolutionized our industry with distribution and all the things that they’ve done for so many years. I owned Avaya’s largest contact center services company, and then I owned one of the Avaya’s largest VARs, so I had a very deep understanding and long-standing relationship with ScanSource.

Once I got onto the supplier side and really jumped into that agency world, that’s when I met Intelisys. Intelisys has always been at the very top of this partner food chain, in terms of anything and everything that they’ve offered. And we’ve been very, very successful together for many years. On my first day on the job at CenturyLink, I walked into Intelisys’ office, and [former Intelisys president] Jay Bradley, said, “Hey, J.D., we need you to sign a nondisclosure.” I literally just met him. A nondisclosure for what? He goes, “Yeah, we’re being purchased.” I go, “Oh, my goodness, that’s awesome. Is it a PE firm, or another technology company?” He goes, “No, we’re being purchased by a company called ScanSource.” I literally almost fell over. I couldn’t believe it. So when we talk about me coming here – every time I’ve walked in this building in the last week and a half, the hair stands up. I still can’t believe how awesome an opportunity it is. And I’m blown away by the company. It’s just fantastic.

CF: Do you remember the first thing Mike Baur said to you back when you were just a whippersnapper?

JD: Mike’s personality is infectious. He’s a mentor for guys like me and a guy you want to be like when you grow up. I don’t remember exactly what he said to me. But I will tell you that then and over the years, he’s always been there for advice and wisdom. And he’s just done business the right way. He’s a man of integrity. He doesn’t lie, cheat or steal, and he doesn’t tolerate anybody that does…