Sophos has announced the appointment of Chris Bell as its new Senior Vice President of Global Channel, Alliances and Corporate Development. In this pivotal role, Bell is set to lead the company’s global channel strategy, expand its partner ecosystem, and align strategic alliances to accelerate business growth and cybersecurity innovation.
This leadership move reaffirms Sophos’ channel-first strategy, signaling a renewed focus on partner enablement, service delivery, and cybersecurity modernization—especially in a market grappling with increasingly complex threat landscapes.
Chris Bell’s Vision for the Channel
Bell brings more than 20 years of experience in the technology industry, including nearly a decade dedicated to cybersecurity and channel leadership. He joined Sophos following its acquisition of Secureworks, where he served as Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing long-term vision, strategic partnerships, and corporate development.
His mandate at Sophos includes:
- Enhancing the Partner Experience: Sophos aims to streamline how partners engage with the company—simplifying quoting, licensing, support, and overall collaboration to enable high-velocity business execution.
- Strengthening MSP and MSSP Capabilities: Sophos will continue innovating for Managed Service Providers and Managed Security Service Providers with its integrated cybersecurity platform. The goal is to boost security outcomes, operational efficiency, and profitability.
- Fueling Partner Growth: The channel strategy will include expanded enablement initiatives like persona-based training and fast-track onboarding to empower partners with advanced cybersecurity capabilities.
- Expanding Market Reach: Sophos plans to leverage the combined strength of its and Secureworks’ portfolios to support partners across commercial and enterprise markets with best-in-class security solutions.
- Diversifying Routes to Market: Sophos is strengthening its presence across technology alliances, global marketplaces, and the cyber insurance ecosystem. Its reach spans resellers, service providers, and OEM partners.
“Unifying Sophos’ and Secureworks’ portfolios presents a unique opportunity to accelerate a future-ready channel program,” Bell said. “Partners need adaptable strategies that prioritize flexibility to stay ahead of the increasingly complex threat landscape.”
Commitment to an Open Ecosystem
Bell emphasized the importance of building a stronger partner network by aligning more closely with the real needs of resellers, MSPs, and other solution providers. Sophos’ channel vision includes a push for an open ecosystem that supports partners through every stage—from strategy to technology to deployment.
Torjus Gylstorff, Chief Revenue Officer at Sophos, noted,
“Evolving our channel business to consistently deliver excellent customer outcomes is at the core of our partner go-to-market approach. We are thrilled to have Chris’ strategic vision to help us build programs that empower partners to scale.”
Sophos’ Growing Leadership in Cybersecurity Services
Sophos is widely recognized for delivering managed detection and response (MDR) services, currently protecting more than 28,000 customers worldwide. The company continues to invest in operational excellence and partner-centric initiatives, including:
- Sophos Partner Care: A 24/7 team dedicated to assisting partners with quoting, licensing, and account support.
- Sophos Customer Success: A program providing end-to-end post-sales support focused on onboarding, retention, and growth.
Industry Recognition
Sophos’ partner-first approach and consistent delivery have earned it several accolades:
- Recognized as a Champion in the Canalys Global Cybersecurity Leadership Matrix 2025, underscoring its excellence in channel engagement and innovation.
- Received a 5-Star Award in the 2025 CRN Partner Program Guide, marking the 12th consecutive year Sophos has earned this recognition.
These accolades serve as a benchmark for solution providers seeking vendors that are committed to high-value channel relationships.
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