5. Candy Shaughnessy, Vice President, Channels, IBM Global Services

Once upon a time, channel and IBM Global Services would never be found in the same sentence. However, as Big Blue realized the value of SMBs, Shaughnessy was focused on making those SMBs also a part of IGS, using the channel to help VARs deliver services to small businesses.

IBM has also recently realigned its SMB division (now named General Business) and split the group in two, targeting enterprises and SMBs. IGS will be a part of this move, aimed at offering services, whether they are IGS or rebranded, as the VAR's own, to enable solution providers to have services as part of every deal they do involving IBM technology.