National technology advisory firm Opex Technologies recruited an executive from its top distribution partner to help it operationalize. Shane McNamara begins his tenure as the firm’s president on July 16, Opex announced Thursday.
McNamara will arrive in the new post after a nearly ten-year stint at Avant, where most recently served as EVP of engineering, operations and vendor management. His operational chops will come into play as the TA company executes a playbook it has built since securing a private equity investment from Bregal Sagemount in May 2025.
“I'm hoping to bring new and fresh ideas to an already well-oiled machine,” McNamara told Channel Dive.
Opex CEO Courtney Humphrey said the company aims to double or triple in size over the next couple of years. Its recent acquisition of Intellys will easily double its footprint by the end of 2026, according to Humphrey.
"Shane is exactly the profile we look for when a high-growth company needs to scale fast,” Zuhair Khan, co-head of Bregal Sagemount’s Basecamp fund, told Channel Dive in an email. “He's done it before, he knows this industry, and he understands what Opex is building. We couldn't be more confident in this addition to the leadership team.”
McNamara is no stranger to Opex, having supported them for years at Avant. Opex is a multi-time TA of the year for the tech services distributor, and Avant has been Opex’s primary TSD.
“They've been instrumental in guiding us in ways to help us to create the success we have today, and I think we've given back to them a lot, and we've been loyal to them, and we're going to stay where we have a strong loyalty,” Humphrey said. “I think Shane is going to help build that bridge and keep it where it's at, and probably make it stronger.”
Humphrey said McNamara was his team’s first thought for the role, though they considered it a long shot. Prior to joining Avant, McNamara was colleagues with Avant’s founders at CDW.
“Avant, in my opinion, is the top TSD on the planet, and I'm getting a call from the CEO of what I would say is the top trusted advisor on the planet asking me to come become a major piece to their overall strategy,” McNamara said. “I thought, 'I cannot not think about that.’”
McNamara has been a key point of contact for Opex and friend to Humphrey. He’s known in the industry as a “grinder,” Humphrey said.
“I need talented people who are willing to commit and put in the work,” Humphrey said. “It's not even a question if Shane fits the bill for that.”
A North Carolina-based firm, Opex diverged from many of its TA peers over the years by its willingness to hire. The TA business is predicated on incremental growth of a residual commission-based revenue stream, making it difficult to allocate new salary. Humphrey’s willingness to do so has helped the firm attract executives who require a base salary. The company most recently hired a director of data and AI enablement in May.
A vertical move
Vendor and TSD execs moving downstream to a TA has become increasingly common as TAs become better capitalized to hire them. Vonage SVP and channel chief Kristy Thomas recently joined Datamob.
"One of the things that I love about the channel is how talent, innovation and ideas move throughout the ecosystem,” Avant President and co-founder Drew Lydecker told Channel Dive in an email. “Shane's transition to Opex reflects that dynamic at its best. Opportunities like this ultimately strengthen the relationships that drive our industry forward."
McNamara’s departure appears amicable, as multiple Avant executives offered comments to Channel Dive.
“Shane has been one of my best colleagues and closest friends for more than two decades,” CEO and co-founder Ian Kieninger said in an email. “He has led with integrity, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to our mission — qualities that have earned him the respect of teammates, partners, and customers alike. He's earned the opportunity to take on this top-tier leadership role, continue growing personally and professionally, and chase what's next. We'll miss him as part of the dream team, but I couldn't be happier for him."
Avant EVP of Global Sales Jen Gallego said McNamara has worked throughout the channel. He led CDW’s carrier sales practice and ran XO Communications’ channel program in addition to his time at the TSD.
“Having served in leadership roles across the channel— from solution provider and trusted advisor to technology services distribution — Shane has developed a deep understanding of the ecosystem and the people who make it successful,” Gallego said.
Opex’s strategy
Opex has been relatively quiet since announcing its deal with Bregal Sagemount in May 2025. That was intentional, according to Humphrey.
“We didn't want to rush anything. We wanted to be thoughtful and get the strategy that puts us in the best place to be the premier technology advisor,” he said.
The firm enjoyed its best year of sales yet, according to Humphrey, propelled by growth in its private equity practice. Launched five years ago, the practice helps portfolio companies save money and develop cloud strategies. It’s taken time for the practice to take off.
“That's a harder world to build trust in, because you're going through multiple layers of people,” Humphrey said.
According to Humphrey, 40-45% of the company’s annual revenue comes from its existing accounts, while the rest from new clients. Opex looks to go deep and wide in those accounts, which are typically enterprises.
“The business lives in a way that we're bringing on 10 to 15 relationships a year that make our year,” Humphrey said. “Our whole business is quality over quantity.”
