Mitel Channel Chiefs Recognition Highlights Partner Ecosystem Focus
Event summary
- Steve Loebrich (Head of Channel and Distribution Sales) and Steffen Kruger (Head of Global Partner Program) at Mitel have been named CRN Channel Chiefs for 2026.
- Loebrich has received this recognition for the second consecutive year, while Kruger marks his third.
- Mitel's enhanced global partner experience, launched last year under Kruger's leadership, streamlines tools and incentives.
- Mitel serves over 70 million users across more than 100 countries.
The big picture
Mitel's consistent recognition of its channel leadership signals a deliberate strategy to prioritize partner relationships as a key driver of growth in the competitive business communications market. This focus on the channel is increasingly important as businesses seek integrated communications solutions and rely on partners for implementation and ongoing support. The emphasis on hybrid communications reflects the broader industry shift towards flexible and resilient communication infrastructure.
What we're watching
- Customer Retention
- Mitel's emphasis on long-term customer value and reducing churn suggests increased scrutiny of partner performance in driving recurring revenue and minimizing attrition.
- Cloud Adoption
- The focus on cloud flexibility with resiliency, security, and control indicates Mitel's channel strategy will be heavily influenced by the evolving cloud communications landscape and partner capabilities in this area.
- Partner Alignment
- Continued recognition of Loebrich and Kruger underscores the importance of maintaining alignment between Mitel’s strategic direction and its channel partners' execution, which will be critical for sustaining growth.
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