‘A new challenge’ - Former Maintel COO joins Giacom

Gillian Bailey is now group operations director for the distributor

Gillian Bailey has swapped channel partner life for the distribution landscape as she announces her new role at Giacom.

Joining from telecommunications managed services provider Maintel, most recently as its chief operating officer, she is now group operations director at the distributor, reporting to CEO Terry O’Brien.

“I was interested in the new challenge, really, Bailey told CRN.

“I'd been at Maintel for 20 years. I really wanted to test myself. I grew a lot in that organisation. I've had quite a gradual rise up through the ranks.”

Bailey started her career as a project manager at comms provider Azzuri in 1998 and transitioned into Maintel when it acquired the business in 2006, as director of operational services.

“But [Giacom] is a much bigger organisation, so that did factor into the decision for me.

“This opportunity came along a few months ago. And it just seemed a really good fit and a great organisation to work for.

“I like what we stand for. I like the channel challenge, if you will. So I've never worked in the channel. I've always worked with end users.”

Bailey was at the 49th ranked Top VAR for more than eight and a half years after the acquisition, covering various senior ops roles.

Announcing her new role on LinkedIn, Bailey welcomed the challenge of the swap.

“I am pleased to update that I am starting a new role as Group Operations Director at Giacom.

“Thanks to Terry O'Brien and the team for making me feel so welcome.

“Excited for the challenge ahead,” she wrote.

Bailey is not the first channel veteran to pack in a partner business for either a distributor or a vendor.

Last week CRN heard from John Maynard, who kicked off his 2025 by swapping his CEO role of Adarma Security to become Palo Alto Networks’ new vice president of SASE, EMEA and LATAM.