Johnny Carpenter makes CRN Channel Leaders EMEA list
11:11 Systems said Johnny Carpenter has been named to CRN's 2026 Channel Leaders EMEA list, which recognises executives in the IT channel across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Carpenter is vice president of channels and alliances EMEA at the managed infrastructure provider. He was recognised for his work with partners on cloud, security and networking, as well as for his role in shaping the company's channel strategy across the region.
According to 11:11 Systems, Carpenter has worked in IT for nearly three decades, building relationships with partners, technical leaders and customers across a range of sectors in EMEA.
The recognition comes during a period of acquisition-led expansion at 11:11 Systems. It recently completed its seventh VMware-based acquisition, strengthening its position in the VMware cloud services market.
Channel focus
Channel programmes remain a key route to market for many technology suppliers, particularly in cloud, cyber security and infrastructure services. Recognition from CRN is closely watched because its annual lists are seen as a marker of influence among vendors, distributors and partner organisations.
11:11 Systems highlighted Carpenter's work on cyber resilience as a central part of his contribution. It said he has helped partners respond to a changing threat landscape while supporting cloud and network modernisation projects for customers.
"This recognition is a powerful testament to the trust our partners place in us and the results we achieve together. At 11:11, our commitment to the channel runs deep. We succeed by empowering our partners with the technology, expertise and support they need to deliver exceptional outcomes for their customers. I'm incredibly proud of what we've built together, and even more excited about what we'll accomplish next," said Johnny Carpenter, vice president of channels and alliances EMEA at 11:11 Systems.
His work forms part of a broader channel operation led globally by Moosa Matariyeh, vice president of global channels. The company's EMEA strategy has focused on partner relationships and supporting customers managing cloud infrastructure and cyber security requirements.
"Johnny's leadership has been instrumental in elevating our channel strategy across EMEA. His ability to combine deep technical insight with a relentless focus on partner success sets a standard that inspires our entire organisation. This recognition reflects the strength of the relationships he has built and the trust he has earned across the channel community," said Matariyeh.
Recent awards
The CRN listing follows several partner-related awards for 11:11 Systems over the past year. In 2025, it was named Global Partner of the Year by HPE Zerto, received the Most Innovative Supplier Award from Telarus, and was recognised by AVANT with the Top Vendor Net Promoter Score in the all-cloud category.
The company also said it was recently named Broadcom VMware Cloud Service Provider Partner of the Year 2025. Together, these awards reflect its efforts to strengthen its standing with channel partners and cloud service customers.
11:11 Systems has described itself as the world's largest privately held VMware Cloud Service Provider. Its business centres on managed infrastructure services for customers seeking to run, protect and manage applications and data.
The Channel Leaders EMEA list is compiled by CRN UK, part of The Channel Company. It highlights vendor and distribution executives judged to be shaping channel strategy and partnerships across the regional technology market.
In comments published alongside the list, CRN said this year's entries showed a strong commitment to the partner ecosystem across varied EMEA markets. Long-term support for the channel was a common theme among those recognised.
"As my team and I reviewed this year's Channel Leaders EMEA entries, one thing came through loud and clear: a deep, long‐standing respect for the channel community. We want to thank these Channel Leaders for being so open about both their strategies, and what drives them as people. Across EMEA's diverse markets and many years of change, we're proud to recognise their ongoing commitment and the role they continue to play in strengthening the channel," said Green.