Articles by Robert Dutt

About Robert Dutt
Robert Dutt is the founder and head blogger at ChannelBuzz.ca. He has been covering the Canadian solution provider channel community for a variety of publications and Web sites since 1997.
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In The Channel

Exclusive Networks’ Carrie Hopkins on building specialist distribution in Canada and what Ignition means for partners

July 16, 2026 Robert Dutt 0
Exclusive Networks’ Carrie Hopkins joins In The Channel to talk about building a hyper-focused cybersecurity distribution model in Canada, the launch of the Ignition channel incubator, and why some of what Exclusive is doing might remind certain channel veterans of something they’ve seen before.

Podcasts

The Buzz: OpenAI launches partner network, Carbon60 makes the MSP 501, and RecordPoint goes channel-first

July 16, 2026 Robert Dutt 0
OpenAI’s inaugural Partner Network is officially live with $150 million in backing, Carbon60 represents Canada on the 2026 MSP 501, and RecordPoint has launched a channel-first global partner program.

In The Channel

HPE channel chief Jenson on Discover 2026, the Canadian angle, and what partners should stop doing

July 15, 2026 Robert Dutt 0
HPE vice president of North America channel and partner ecosystem Jeremiah Jenson sits down with ChannelBuzz.ca for the final word on HPE Discover 2026, from the show floor temperature to the specific opportunities he sees for Canadian partners in networking, hybrid cloud, and the “great VM reset.”

Podcasts

The Buzz: Microsoft drops 570 July patches, Citrix flexes services, and AI compliance shifts to ops

July 15, 2026 Robert Dutt 0
Microsoft fixes 570 flaws including 3 zero-days, Citrix gives partners a new services angle with Platform Flex, and AI compliance is moving from policy paper to recurring operations.

In The Channel

Xerox IT Solutions’ Curtis Dery on HPE’s financing moves, channel-only expansion, and why AI is a ‘digital goldmine’

July 14, 2026 Robert Dutt 0
Xerox IT Solutions Canada executive vice president Curtis Dery joins In The Channel at HPE Discover 2026 to discuss the partner perspective on HPE’s new 90/9 financing, expanded credit lines, channel-only product expansion, and why he believes AI has created a level playing field for partners for the first time in their careers.

Podcasts

The Buzz: Barracuda buys Evo Security, Rewst bets on MCP, and Microsoft sets the FY27 table

July 14, 2026 Robert Dutt 0
Barracuda buys Evo Security for identity, Rewst rebuilds around MCP and AI agents, and Microsoft opens its July partner playbook with FY27 planning and Copilot specialization updates.

In The Channel

Long View’s Dave Frederickson on HPE’s rediscovered mojo, the quote-cycle crisis, and why AI starts with data

June 25, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Long View’s Dave Frederickson on HPE’s rediscovered mojo, the quote-cycle crisis, and why AI starts with data
Former HP Canada ESSN lead and now Long View Systems EVP Dave Frederickson joins us live from HPE Discover 2026 with a perspective on the partner program, the real cost of the quote-cycle crisis, and why his AI conversations still start at the data layer.

In The Channel

Compugen’s Stéphan Wener on winning HPE Canada Solution Provider of the Year – and why ‘HPE is a different company’

June 24, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Compugen’s Stéphan Wener on winning HPE Canada Solution Provider of the Year – and why ‘HPE is a different company’
Recorded on-site at HPE Discover in Las Vegas, this episode features Compugen chief customer officer Stéphan Wener on the company’s HPE Canada Solution Provider of the Year win, its new Triple Platinum Plus status, and what he’s seeing from Canadian customers navigating AI infrastructure decisions.

In The Channel

HPE Financial Services’ Brad Shapiro on new partner financing offers and the ITAD opportunity in AI refreshes

June 19, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on HPE Financial Services’ Brad Shapiro on new partner financing offers and the ITAD opportunity in AI refreshes
Brad Shapiro of HPE Financial Services explains new partner financing offers including the 90/9 Advantage, the rationale behind a 150 per cent credit expansion, and how IT asset disposition is becoming a critical piece of the AI infrastructure refresh.

Podcasts

The Buzz: an end-of-week look at the HPE Discover 2026 details that matter for partners

June 19, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on The Buzz: an end-of-week look at the HPE Discover 2026 details that matter for partners
We wraps up the week at HPE Discover with a reporter’s notebook episode on the operational details, candid moments, and mechanical changes that surfaced in the channel leadership panel.