After decades of shaping the IT channel, Bob Stegner announced he is retiring from his position as senior vice president of marketing at TD SYNNEX. Stegner has been a cornerstone in building relationships and supporting channel partners. He plans to remain in his role until March 3, 2025, to support his successor, Jessica McDowell.
He recently sat down with ChannelPro’s Joel Zaidspiner to discuss his decision to retire, his legacy, and what’s next for him — and the industry at large. Here’s an edited version of what he shared.
ChannelPro: Bob, I’m excited to be here with you today. Congratulations on your retirement announcement. When did you decide now was the right time for you to step down?
Stegner: I’ve been contemplating [retirement] for a while. When the Tech Data merger took place, that put everything on hold because I wanted to see that through. Everything is great now. The people taking over are top notch, and the timing was good. That’s when I made the decision to go ahead and announce it this year. I’ll be around helping my replacement transition, and then I’ll stay on as an advisor to help with some charitable events and some other things that Reyna Thompson, our new president, has me doing.
ChannelPro: What do you think your legacy is?
Stegner: You know, Joel, it’s funny that when people ask me that, I get emotional. I didn’t think of it that way, but when I started reading comments from people [on social media], I realized, there is a legacy. A lot of it is how you treat people and help them with their businesses — not just to grow but to build friendships. I’ve said this for the longest time: People like to deal with people. Their relationships are important and that should never change, no matter what business you’re in.
ChannelPro: What does the future hold for you in retirement?
Stegner: I plan to do some consulting with some of the different vendors and others. … But mostly, I want to spend time with my family, especially my grandchildren. Someone said to me, “When you retire, where are you going?” They all think you’re going on a special trip to Europe or on an Alaskan cruise. I’m going to Dallas to see my grandchildren. That’s where I’m going on March 4.
ChannelPro: So, Jessica McDowell is going to step into your shoes at TD SYNNEX. What do you expect her to achieve?
Bob Stegner
Stegner: She has been with us on the security side for 10 years — and everyone can see how well she did in that. She’s well respected in the industry. I see her building on our digital strategy. That’s probably not my strength, but it is hers. She’s a rock star. I think she’ll continue to grow not only the marketing but taking it to the next step. That’s where the digital expertise will really come in.
ChannelPro: What are your thoughts on the IT channel’s future?
Stegner: Sometimes, people forget about the smaller resellers. We owe it to them to make sure they’re as successful as the big guys. They’re pillars in their communities and have personal relationships with their customers. That’s something big online sellers can’t replicate. Relationships are starting to make a comeback. I recently attended an event where people were reconnecting face-to-face. That’s how we grow the channel — through relationships, not just transactions.
ChannelPro: What advice would you give MSPs looking to grow in 2025?
Stegner: Stay the course. It’s a tough business. Building recurring revenue takes time, and transitioning your team to sell services can be challenging. As frustrating as it may be, stay the course. Get your baseline laid out and then, shoot for the big deals.
ChannelPro: Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?
Stegner: I tried my hardest to be there for my kids. My dad was a small business owner. He sometimes didn’t have the luxury to think that family was more important than business. I tried to never let that happen. Even when I commuted between Ohio and California, I made it back for the kids. But sometimes, I would miss some things. One of the things I’ve learned is that kids don’t always remember what you went to, but they don’t forget what you missed. That’s probably the one thing I would have done a little differently.
ChannelPro: Any final thoughts for our audience?
Stegner: I’m going to miss you guys. These are my friends and I’ll always stay in touch with my friends. It’s very emotional because the channel has been my life. I will miss everyone in the day to day. But we will see each other again.
