Of course, there are things that the channel doesn't like. But it's a lot easier to deal with a company that can execute as promised. That certainly didn't happen with the old management. Many things done under the new French regime should have done 15 years ago, moves such as simplifying the product line, and the delay made these changes more painful. Sage deserves credit for not ducking the hard issues. Houillon said there were tough, and not popular decisions, that management needed to make and made them. It is not clear how well Sage soothed fears that it is increasingly going direct and that resellers are not as important as they once were. "Our partners are essential in our efforts to deliver a positive customer experience," Brad Smith, EVP of customer experience, said during the same session. Berruyer pointed to positive results - Net promoter scores had move from 11 to 24. Brand recognition is way up. Revenue growth improved in North America. And no one has the last word on how the channel's role will evolve. As Berruyer said, :The markets we are operating in are changing massively."