IT channel futurist to help guide ecosystem orchestrator to epic levels of
business excellence and partner engagement

June 14, 2022 Calgary, AB — Industry Influencer and Chief Analyst at Canalys Jay McBain has joined Gradient MSP's flock as Strategic Advisor. The appointment comes at a pivotal time in the Tech Innovator's growth journey to become the IT channel's exclusive integration platform for easily connecting, interacting, and growing their businesses.

“In my research over the past few years on the future of the technology landscape, evolving business models, the rising importance of partnerships, and rapidly expanding ecosystems—Gradient MSP has come into view as a leading ecosystem orchestrator,” says Jay McBain, Strategic Advisor at Gradient. “Offering a frictionless IT channel ecosystem across MSPs/VARs, vendors, and distributors, in addition to providing the platform for everything-as-a-service reconciliation creates a future-friendly and measurable value to the broader technology industry.”

“Jay’s interest and enthusiasm in Gradient MSP validates the work we have been doing for the last two years,” says Colin Knox, co-founder and CEO at Gradient MSP. “We are excited to work with Jay on strategic guidance bridging product, technology alliances, and more to help us in our mission to power an ecosystem of opportunity for the IT channel."

Launched earlier this year, Gradient MSP’s Synthesize Integration Platform offers a Billing Module (formerly Billable™) for MSPs and vendors. The Billing Module, which recently surpassed 500 MSP partners, is the easiest way for MSPs to reconcile billing of their resale stack to their PSA, getting invoices out quicker without any revenue slipping through the cracks.

Gradient's Billing Module represents a significant step in Gradient’s plan to rectify core channel partnership challenges by connecting the different tools MSPs use and resell. Conversely, Vendors can connect for free and easily support 26,000+ MSPs who collectively use the eight PSAs automatically patched through a single integration via the Synthesize Vendor Integration Program.

About Jay McBain
Jay McBain is an accomplished speaker, author and innovator in the IT industry. Named 2021 Channel Influencer of the Year by Channel Partners Magazine, Top 40 Under Forty by the Business Review, Channel A-List by CRN, Top 8 Thought Leader by Channel Marketing Journal, Top 20 Visionary by ChannelPro, Top 25 Newsmaker by CDN Magazine, Top 50 Channel Influencer by Penton, Top 100 Most Respected Thought Leader by VSR Magazine, Global Power 150 by SMB Magazine, and Top 250 Managed Services Executives by MSPmentor.

Jay is often sought out for keynotes, thought leadership and future industry guidance. He has spent his 28-year career in various executive channel sales, marketing, strategy roles within IBM, Lenovo, Autotask, ChannelEyes, Forrester, and now Canalys. Jay is the chief analyst for global channels at Canalys—the world's leading analyst firm with a distinct focus on channels, partnerships, alliances, and ecosystems.

Jay has led several communities at CompTIA including Vendor Advisory Council, Managed Services Community, Advancing Women in Tech and Emerging Tech. He is also a board member of Channel Partners, Channel Vanguard Council, Ziff Davis Leadership Council, and CRN Channel Intelligence Council. As a futurist, and long-standing member of the World Future Society, Jay is a recognized expert in the future of channels, alliances, partnering ecosystems and the study of emerging go-to-market models.

An avid blogger, community, and social media expert, he has developed an innovative channel tech stack highlighting the importance of channel data and automation. Jay has lived in Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Raleigh, Albany & Boynton Beach. He actively gives back to the community and been on the board of the United Way, National Cristina Organization and Junior Achievement. For more information visit jaymcbain.com.


About Gradient MSP
Established in 2020, Gradient MSP offers the IT channel ecosystem an integration platform proven to help MSPs run a smoother, more successful services business by connecting all the solutions they resell and use to their PSA platforms. Founded by technology and business entrepreneur Colin Knox, Gradient MSP is solving for two of the biggest challenges and greatest opportunities facing the industry: everything-as-a-service reconciliation and an open, frictionless IT channel ecosystem. Visit meetgradient.com.

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For more information or to set up media interviews, please contact:


Kelly Meyers, VP Marketing
Gradient MSP
Kelly.Meyers@meetgradient.com
+1 403 605 4156