CMIT Solutions, a national MSP (managed IT service provider) franchising organization, has named Roger Lewis to succeed Jeff Connally as CEO. The transition arrives roughly six months after private equity firm Craftsman Capital acquired CMIT in December 2018.
Lewis has big shoes to fill -- but arrives with a strong pedigree of his own. The background:
- Connally joined CMIT Solutions in 2005 as a member of the Board of Directors. He then held such titles as CEO, president and principal -- leading the company's deep dive into managed IT services and the growing focus on recurring revenue. In the near future, Connally will rejoin the Board of Directors for the brand, the company says.
- Connally's successor, Roger Lewis, has a mix of experience spanning entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, software and corporate IT know-how. He previously co-founded AllianceTech, a meeting and events technology provider that Cvent acquired in 2015. Earlier, he co-founded and grew an IT services company to $8 million in annual sales before a New York-based organization acquired that business. Lewis kicked off his career with software- and program management-related posts at IBM.
CMIT Solutions Names New CEO: Executive Perspectives
Commenting on the executive transition, Craftsman Capital Co-founder and Partner Will Walters said:
“We are pleased to welcome Roger to CMIT Solutions. It is of utmost importance that our next CEO continues to share and understand our values and goals while also offering new insight and experience to help get us to the next level. Roger has a strong track record and we are confident that he is the right leader for CMIT Solutions.”
Added Lewis:
“I’m honored to join CMIT Solutions. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to grow an established franchise system and continue to add value to our franchises. I will work closely with our talented group of franchise partners, technology partners and the existing corporate team to advance our goals to ensure that the steps we take forward solidify what our clients have come to appreciate and expect from us. Together, I know we will reach new milestones to better support our clients, accelerate franchisee performance and expand our presence throughout North America.”
MSP Franchises, Funding and More
CMIT has more than 230 offices in 33 states. The company opened 42 new franchise offices in North America in 2018, and 12 new franchise partners join the fold so far in 2019.
Amid that growth, the company must also navigate multiple market shifts. Examples include:
- Additional MSP Franchises: TeamLogic IT, another MSP franchising organization, is now led by Kaseya and Ingram Micro veteran Dan Shapero. During a brief hallway discussion at the Kaseya IT Connect Global 2019 conference in May, Shapero shared multiple business milestones with ChannelE2E. We'll strive to share more details soon.
- MSP Rollups: Just yesterday, four regional MSPs confirmed plans to roll up into a single national MSP called Iconic IT.
- Private Equity: A lengthy list of MSPs now have private equity owners and associated funding, and are looking to make "tuck-in" deals to gain specific regional, national, vertical market, talent or technology expertise.
- Office Equipment Dealers: Printer and office equipment companies such as Sharp Business Systems (SBS) have been buying up resellers, dealers and MSPs. SBS as of 2018 had 15 local SBS branches in 56 locations across the country.
- Hybrid Models: Upstarts like The 20 offer a "cooperative" business model, where participating MSPs share common platforms and infrastructure, all on a consumption model.
Still, CMIT Solutions also is growing, backed by private equity, and looking to make key moves under new CEO Lewis. Among the key relationships to watch: CMIT Solutions' emerging partnership with BOXX Technologies -- another business owned by Craftsman Capital.
Additional insights from Joe Panettieri.
