Mitel appoints Ben Macdonald as new Channel Chief. Mitel, a global leader in business communications, today announced the appointment of Ben Macdonald as vice president, Global Channel Go-to-Market. The hire underscores Mitel's commitment to growing with its partners and reflects the company's continued investment in the channel ecosystem as organizations worldwide accelerate their shift to hybrid communications solutions. With more than 6,000 partners globally, Mitel's channel community is central to how the company serves customers across demanding industries - sectors where privacy, resiliency, and flexibility are non-negotiable. Macdonald's appointment signals Mitel's intent to deepen that community and build on the momentum of its recently launched enhanced Global Partner Program. Macdonald joins Mitel with extensive experience building and scaling partner-led go-to-market models across Unified Communications, Security, Networking, and SaaS markets. A recognized CRN Channel Chief, he brings a proven track record of transforming transactional, hardware-centric businesses into recurring revenue engines - a capability that aligns directly with Mitel's strategy to support partners through the growing demand for integrated hybrid communications. Most recently serving as Vice President of Global Sales and Channels at Owl Labs, Macdonald led the company's transformation into a scalable B2B and enterprise channel-led growth model, securing wins with major global organizations through strategic alliances with Microsoft and Lenovo. His earlier career includes senior channel leadership roles at Poly, Juniper Networks, and Ekahau, where he developed deep expertise in partner segmentation, MSP and service provider ecosystem development, and subscription monetization across North America, EMEA, and APAC. In his new role, Macdonald will lead Mitel's global channel strategy, the associated global partner program and the operational environment, shaping how Mitel and its partners succeed together, as the market enters what analysts describe as one of the largest communications refresh cycles in a decade. According to Mitel research, more than 68% of businesses have used their current communications systems for over seven years, with 92% of modernizing organizations choosing an integrated-hybrid strategy, placing channel partners at the center of a significant market opportunity. "The partner opportunity in business communications right now is exceptional," said Macdonald. "Organizations across every sector are rethinking their communications infrastructure, and they're turning to trusted channel partners to guide that journey. Mitel's global partner ecosystem is a genuine competitive advantage, and I'm excited to help develop it further for long-term growth." "Ben's track record of building partner-led growth engines is exactly what we need as we enter this next phase," said Eric Hanson, chief marketing officer, Mitel. "Our partners are trusted advisors to organizations that cannot afford disruption in critical industries like healthcare, finance, public sector, and beyond. Strengthening our global channel leadership means we can better support those partners in delivering the outcomes their customers depend on." About Mitel. Mitel is a global leader in business communications, providing businesses with advanced communication, collaboration, and contact center solutions. With more than 70 million users across over 100 countries, Mitel empowers organizations to connect, communicate, and collaborate seamlessly, with the flexibility and choice they need to thrive, both now and for the future. Through proven experience and innovative solutions, Mitel delivers communications without compromise. Mitel is the registered trademark of Mitel Networks Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Owl Labs and Lenovo launch advanced 360° Microsoft Teams Rooms solutions. Owl Labs, a pioneer in 360-degree AI-powered video conferencing and hybrid collaboration technology, has partnered with global tech leader Lenovo to introduce Lenovo-powered 360° Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTR-W) solutions. This collaboration integrates Owl Labs' award-winning Meeting Owl 3 and 4+ used by nearly 250,000 organizations worldwide with Lenovo's ThinkSmart Core and Tiny Kit, delivering flexible, cost-effective full-room solutions for both SMBs and enterprise customers. According to Frost & Sullivan's Video Conferencing Devices Market Report (March 2025), the global room video devices market is expected to reach $7.8 billion by 2029. This growth signals significant opportunities for the adoption and innovation of hybrid collaboration technologies. Owl Labs is the first and only standalone 360° device to launch with Lenovo's Microsoft Teams Rooms solutions, positioning both companies at the forefront of this expanding market. Owl Labs' Meeting Owl 4+ has recently earned Microsoft Teams certification, joining the Meeting Owl 3 and Owl Bar in meeting Microsoft's stringent standards for seamless operation and integration. This joint solution offers Microsoft Teams-certified, modular setups suitable for a variety of users from SMBs upgrading from basic configurations to enterprises seeking scalable, user-friendly room systems. MTR-W devices, built on a secure and update-ready operating system, provide organizations with a future-proof foundation for long-term hybrid collaboration. "Hybrid work demands technology that works for everyone, regardless of their location," said Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs. "Teaming up with Lenovo creates a new standard for seamless 360-degree collaboration for hybrid meetings. Owl Labs brings deep BYOD market penetration and proven software leadership in the video conferencing space capabilities that complement Lenovo's offering. By combining our center-of-room innovation with Lenovo's modular approach, we're not just solving today's setup challenges, we're reimagining what inclusive hybrid meetings can be and bringing that capability to a larger audience." A recent Owl Labs survey revealed that 77% of workers lose time due to technical issues, with nearly one-third wasting more than ten minutes just setting up. The new offering addresses these challenges by combining a Meeting Owl 3 or 4+ for 360° in-room video and audio, a Lenovo ThinkSmart Core or Tiny Kit to run Teams Rooms, and a Lenovo Controller (IP or USB) for one-touch meeting control and room management. Together, these components transform existing BYOD setups into fully integrated Microsoft Teams Rooms with intuitive functionality. Today's workspaces demand flexible hybrid solutions tailored to each organization's needs. Owl Labs and Lenovo are redefining meeting environments of all sizes, enabling companies to customize setups from one-on-one huddles to large all-hands sessions. Their modular approach ensures spaces are purpose-built for real-world collaboration. "Our collaboration with Owl Labs is pivotal in expanding Lenovo's ThinkSmart portfolio," said Marcus Kennedy, GM of Smart Collaboration at Lenovo. "By integrating Owl Labs' innovative 360-degree center-of-room camera solutions, we can now deliver a truly differentiated AI-powered audio-visual experience. This complements our front-of-room bars, providing flexible, inclusive solutions for Microsoft Teams Rooms and meeting evolving customer needs." AI staff writer with a passion for exploring the latest in AI technology. Specializing in original rewrites and insightful coverage of cutting-edge advancements. Dedicated to delivering clear, engaging news and analysis on the evolving AI landscape to keep readers informed and ahead of the curve.

The Owl Labs' State of Hybrid Work 2025 in the United States has revealed that employees are starting to reclaim their time in the wake of growing office-return mandates.