Channel Chat Podcast
Channel Chat Podcast
Marc Sumner - CEO @ Robertson Sumner Ltd | Channel Chat
#249 Dan Smith: I don't want to be your partner. I want to be a division of your business.
30 minutes Posted Sep 22, 2025 at 3:30 pm.
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Show notes
This week Marc Sumner sat down with Dan Smith, CEO of Astralis, to talk about his journey from sales leadership at Blancco to running Astralis, and the lessons he's carried along the way. They covered a lot of ground, including: • The importance of winning hearts and minds in leadership – not just giving orders. • Why sales directors should keep their toe in the game and stay relevant. • How Astralis was born out of an "exit → retirement → back to business" story. • The challenges (and opportunities) of working with channel partners in IT asset disposal (ITAD). • The real role of ESG and sustainability in customer decisions. • Where the market is heading: vendors, resellers, and lifecycle partners.