Channel Insider Announces the 2026 CML100 List

Channel Insider is proud to release the 2026 CML100, our annual list recognizing the organizations and leaders having the greatest impact on the global IT channel.

Now in its latest edition, the CML100 (Channel Marketing Leaders 100 List) serves as both a recognition program and an editorial benchmark. It highlights the companies and executives shaping how the channel operates today and how it is evolving for what comes next.

Why the CML100 matters

The IT channel is operating in a period of sustained transformation. Cloud-first delivery models, escalating cybersecurity risk, the rise of AI-driven services, and growing customer expectations are forcing partners and vendors alike to rethink strategy, execution, and alignment.

The CML100 exists to spotlight those leaders who are not simply reacting to these pressures but actively setting direction for the channel ecosystem through marketing efforts. 

Our CML100 list focuses on influence, execution, and impact, and on how those elements translate into long-term value for partners and customers.

What defines a 2026 CML100 honoree

The 2026 CML100 recognizes companies and executives demonstrating leadership across areas, including:

• Partner-first go-to-market strategy and enablement
• Innovation across cloud, security, AI, and managed services
• Strong alignment between vendors, solution providers, MSPs, and distributors
• Measurable outcomes for partners and end customers

This year’s honorees reflect a channel that is becoming more operationally mature, more data-driven, and more outcome-focused—while still navigating significant change.

How the 2026 CML100 was selected

The 2026 CML100 was curated by Channel Insider’s editorial team using a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis. Selection criteria included industry influence, strategic execution, partner impact, and demonstrated leadership over the past year.

The list spans the full breadth of the channel, including technology vendors, managed service providers, solution providers, distributors, and other channel-focused leaders. 

Importantly, the CML100 is not a ranked list. Each honoree is included based on the strength and consistency of their impact, not a numerical score.

This approach allows us to reflect on how influence actually works in the channel: distributed, interconnected, and often defined by execution rather than title alone.

Key themes shaping the 2026 CML100

Several clear themes emerge across this year’s honorees:

• Partner-led growth remains central, with increased emphasis on enablement, co-selling, and shared accountability.
• Security and resilience continue to drive investment as partners respond to rising threats and regulatory pressure.
• AI and automation are moving from experimentation into practical deployment across programs, operations, and service delivery.
• Operational discipline—from data-driven decision-making to scalable services—is increasingly separating leaders from followers.

Together, these themes illustrate a channel that is both maturing and reinventing itself in response to market demands.

Explore the full 2026 CML100

The full Channel Insider 2026 CML100 list is now live in our Awards and Recognition section on channelinsider.com.

We congratulate the 2026 CML100 honorees and look forward to continuing to cover the strategies, decisions, and leadership shaping the future of the IT channel.

If you would like to get in touch with our editorial team to share your insights, predictions, or news tips, send us an email at news@channelinsider.com.