Azul’s Simon Taylor Named 2026 CRN® Channel Chief for Second Consecutive Year; Azul PartnerConnect Program Also Recognized in 2026 CRN Partner Program Guide

Dual recognition underscores Azul’s growing channel momentum, with 50% of business going through channel and alliance partners

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Azul, the trusted leader in enterprise Java for today’s AI and cloud-first world, today announced that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Simon Taylor, Azul’s vice president of Worldwide Partner Sales & Alliances, to its prestigious 2026 CRN® Channel Chiefs list for the second consecutive year. This annual recognition celebrates IT vendor and distribution executives who are shaping channel strategy and driving innovation and partnership across the industry.

Azul also announced that its PartnerConnect program has been honored for the second straight year in the 2026 CRN Partner Program Guide, an essential resource for solution providers seeking vendor partner programs that match their business goals and deliver high partner value.

Under Taylor’s leadership, Azul’s channel program has driven significant growth, with 50% of business going through channel and alliance partners. Over the past year, the program achieved 73% growth in strategic VARs and alliances across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas, expanding Azul’s global footprint to 346 channel partners. Taylor has also facilitated key relationships with global leaders and hyperscalers including AWS, SHI, Zones, SoftwareOne, Insight Enterprises, CDW, DXC and NTT.

“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, at The Channel Company.

Azul PartnerConnect Recognized for Partner Program Excellence

As solution providers navigate evolving customer demands, new technologies and changing business models, the structure and depth of vendor partner programs play an increasingly critical role in partnership decisions. Elements such as financial incentives, sales and marketing support, training and certification opportunities, and the availability of vendor technical resources can significantly influence a partner’s ability to scale their business around the vendor solutions, as well as differentiate and drive profitability over time. For the 2026 Partner Program Guide, the CRN research team assessed technology vendors based on the strength and breadth of their partner program offerings, including partner training and enablement, pre- and post-sales support, marketing resources, technical assistance and ongoing communication. The resulting guide provides solution providers with meaningful insight into partner programs designed to support sustained success in a rapidly evolving channel landscape.

Azul PartnerConnect supports multiple partner paths, including value added resellers, MSPs, systems integrators, OEM/ISVs and licensing advisors, with tiered rewards, competitive margins and rebates, and comprehensive training and certification curriculums for sales, engineering and migration practices.

Over the past year, Azul launched its Managed Services Provider Program for Azul Intelligence Cloud, enabling partners to deliver Java optimization, licensing and security risk assessment and compliance analytics as managed offerings. In addition, Azul has invested heavily in the past year with CSP co-sell including AWS. In 2026, Azul plans to revise its partner tiers, expand training and certification options, focus on high propensity channel topics that align to Java use including AI, and introduce new partner incentives.

“Our channel philosophy is centered on accelerating global growth through a value-added, channel-focused model that targets the high propensity Java industry growth segments that our partners are focusing on for measurable ROI,” said Taylor. “By combining go-to-market alignment, innovation, simplicity and trust, Azul’s channel organization is there to assist partners as they look to scale their Azul-based business more quickly. In addition, this recognition from CRN further validates our commitment to empowering partners with the tools and intelligence they need to lead the market in Java license and risk management, modernization and cost optimization.”

CRN’s 2026 Channel Chiefs list is featured online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs, and CRN’s 2026 Partner Program Guide is available online at www.CRN.com/PPG.

FAQs

How are companies reducing Oracle Java licensing costs through channel partners?

Organizations migrating off Oracle Java are increasingly working with channel partners who specialize in software asset management and Java modernization. Azul’s PartnerConnect program equips resellers, MSPs, and systems integrators with open-source alternatives, migration expertise, runtime optimization tools, and security analytics through its Intelligence Cloud platform, with 50% of business going through channel and alliance partners.

What should solution providers look for in a Java vendor partner program?

The strongest Java vendor partner programs go beyond resale margins to offer training, certification, and tools that create recurring service revenue. Azul PartnerConnect, recognized in the 2026 CRN Partner Program Guide, provides multiple partner paths with tiered incentives and access to Azul’s Managed Services Provider Program for Azul Intelligence Cloud for delivering Java optimization and security analytics as managed offerings.

Why is Java modernization a growth opportunity for IT channel partners?

As enterprises face rising cloud costs and AI-driven workload complexity, Java application modernization has become a high-demand service area. Azul’s channel program has seen 50% of business going through channel and alliance partners, with 73% year-over-year growth in strategic partnerships driven by demand for Java license advisory, performance optimization, and cloud migration services.

About Azul

Azul is the trusted leader in enterprise Java for today’s AI and cloud-first world. Its open source-based Java platform empowers organizations to optimize the entire Java lifecycle to accelerate performance, strengthen security, reduce licensing and cloud costs, and boost developer productivity. Azul powers mission-critical systems for 36% of the Fortune 100, 50% of the Forbes Top 10 World’s Most Valuable Brands, and the world’s top 10 financial trading companies. Learn more at azul.com and follow @azulsystems.