Channel partners have the opportunity to embed their chosen vendors ’ strengths into their proposition to customers , using these to differentiate their offerings says JAMES RICHMOND .

James Richmond is the Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand at Akamai Technologies , the cloud company that powers and protects life online . James leads Akamai ’ s growth momentum and expansion in the region , guiding and enabling the local ANZ team to best represent Akamai ’ s cloud computing , security and delivery solutions to partners and customers . James is responsible for strengthening Akamai ’ s client and partner relationships and driving Akamai ’ s go-to-market strategy .

What are your strengths and abilities that you bring to the above role ?

James has over two decades of experience in forging great customer and partner relationships in highly regulated and complex environments . James has been instrumental in helping many of Australia ’ s largest organisations leverage technological innovation and closely integrated relationships to achieve business outcomes and manage risk .

Please describe the opportunities and challenges that exist for channel partners in your market ?

The greatest business partners ensure they maintain a deep understanding of and strong alignment to their customers ’ needs now and into the future and use their experience and capabilities as best they can to help .

This is certainly true of partnering in Australia and New Zealand today where enterprise customers are unilaterally faced with escalating risks to investors , customers , and staff alike . Channel partners remain uniquely placed to bring great ideas , best of breed solution designs , and economies of scale to bear on their customers ’ problems , while continually differentiating their value to customers via bespoke relationship engagement frameworks .

How can a channel partner disrupt the regional market and gain a leading competitive position ?

Channel partners have the opportunity to embed their chosen vendors ’ strengths into their proposition to customers , using these to differentiate their offerings to compete . Channel market dynamics continue to evolve quickly , as both public and private sector customers push their strategic partners to enhance their efficiency , simplicity , visibility , and trust , all in context of the industries in which they operate and serve , at a pace Akamai has not seen before in ANZ .

How do you best like to de-stress and re-charge off work ?

James is blessed with beautiful children who are his best stressbusters and help him recharge outside of work . James also has a great passion for watching his beloved team the Richmond Tigers play Australian Rules Football . Spending time with his family is also something that James enjoys and cherishes tremendously .

Time-off will transform as work-life balance becomes increasingly important to people to actively monitor and manage . Being able to totally unplug from the digital world and devices is challenging for most . But exiting the digital world completely at times with family and friends is the ultimate way to rejuvenate .

James Richmond , Regional Director ANZ , Akamai Technologies

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