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Blancco’s VP of Global Pathways Jim Elder Honored as a 2026 CRN Channel Chief

Annual CRN Channel Chiefs list spotlights the most influential leaders across the IT channel

BOSTON – February 2, 2026— Blancco Technology Group, the industry standard in data erasure and mobile lifecycle solutions, today announced that Jim Elder, VP of Global Pathways, has been named to the prestigious 2026 CRN® Channel Chiefs list. This annual recognition celebrates IT vendor and distribution executives who are shaping channel strategy and driving innovation and partnership across the industry.

Elder leads Blancco’s global partner ecosystem with a focus on building and expanding Blancco’s relationships with OEMs, global systems integrators, and managed solution providers, including IBM, Lenovo and TCS – an approach that is a key component within Blancco’s growth goals. With over 40 patented and patent-pending innovations fueling the company’s proprietary technology, Blancco’s solutions have been tested, certified, approved and recommended by 13+ governing bodies and leading organizations around the world, including NATO. No other data erasure software can attest to this level of compliance. Blancco also provides customers with a 100% tamper-proof audit trail validating compliance with global data protection and privacy regulations.

“Jim plays a key role at Blancco, leading our global partner initiatives and working closely with partner MVPs to help enterprises use Blancco’s trusted data sanitization solutions effectively,” said Blancco CEO Lou DiFruscio. “As AI continues to drive data growth, organizations face increasing regulatory and cross-border compliance challenges. Jim’s practical, strategic approach to data protection supports partners and their customers in securely and efficiently erasing unneeded data—across devices and live environments—while maintaining compliance.”

“I believe that partners sell what they know, with those they trust, and focus on vendors they’re confident they can be profitable with,” said Elder. “Training and enablement, along with programs and practices that protect a partner’s investment, are essential. Equally important are pricing strategies and channel discipline that ensure partner profitability. It’s also critically important to be easy to do business with—because when all else is equal, channel sales teams will always default to the fastest and most efficient path to a sale.”

The annual CRN Channel Chiefs list spotlights the most influential leaders across the IT channel, celebrating those who champion collaboration, drive innovation and empower their partners and customers to achieve shared success.

“Leaders recognized as CRN Channel Chiefs this year have demonstrated unwavering commitment to their partners and the broader IT channel. Their vision, passion and drive for innovation continue to shape the future of our industry. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the positive impact they make every day,” said Jennifer Follett, Vice President, U.S. Content, Executive Editor, CRN.

CRN’s 2026 Channel Chiefs list will be featured on CRN.com beginning Feb. 2 at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs. For more information about Blancco’s partner program, please visit https://blancco.com/partners/blancco-global-partner-program/.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world’s top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers, and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.

The Channel Company Contact: Natalie Lewis, The Channel Company [email protected]

About Blancco Technology Group

Reduce Risk. Increase Efficiency. Be Sustainable. Blancco Technology Group provides organizations with secure, compliant, and automated solutions that accelerate the transition to the circular economy. Each year, tens of millions of Blancco erasures allow top-tier organizations to protect end-of-life data against unauthorized access, safely redeploy data storage assets, and firmly comply with increased data protection and privacy requirements. Our precise device diagnostics help move used IT assets confidently into the circular economy, enabling enterprises, IT asset disposition (ITAD) vendors and recyclers, and mobile industry stakeholders to operate more sustainably.

Globally approved, recommended, and certified by governing and industry bodies around the world, Blancco is the industry standard in data erasure and mobile lifecycle solutions. With 40+ patented or patent-pending ideas, we continue to grow the number of innovative solutions global companies can rely on to accelerate operations, secure their data, and grow their businesses. Read more about us at www.blancco.com. Media Contact: [email protected]