Lynn Smurthwaite-Murphy Is a Finalist for CRN’s 2026 Women of the Year Awards

Redmond, WA, September 15, 2026 – Plugable Technologies, a leading provider of docking, connectivity, and AI-enablement solutions for the modern workplace, is proud to share that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Lynn Smurthwaite-Murphy as a finalist in the CEO of the Year category of the 2026 CRN Women of the Year Awards.

This honor recognizes Lynn Smurthwaite-Murphy’s commitment to channel innovation and excellence through her leadership guiding Plugable’s transformation from a single-channel B2C company into a rapidly growing B2B omnichannel business, steering a strategic minority investment from Acer Gadget to accelerate product innovation and global reach, while launching business-ready local AI solutions that build on Plugable’s plug-and-play philosophy to help organizations securely support modern AI workloads.

This is the fourth annual CRN Women of the Year Awards, which spotlight extraordinary women, companies, and allies who demonstrate dedication to advancing the IT industry through their leadership and initiatives each day. The winners of the Women of the Year Awards will be announced at the Awards Gala on December 8, 2026 in New York City.

Smurthwaite-Murphy joined Plugable as CEO after previously serving as President and CEO of StarTech.com and as EVP of North America at Westcon-Comstor, where she led a $2.7 billion business. Over more than 35 years in technology, her career has spanned nearly every part of the IT channel value chain, including vendors, distribution, and service providers. At Plugable, she is leading the company through a significant transformation, expanding it into a more diversified, B2B-focused omnichannel business while deepening its relationships with MSPs and distribution partners and driving innovation into new markets and technologies. As a CEO and board director, she also brings the end-customer perspective of a business leader accountable for the outcomes of technology investments. This breadth gives her a distinctive view of how technology is developed, brought to market, adopted, and ultimately delivers business value, shaping her approach to channel growth, innovation, and transformation.

“The finalists for the CRN Women of the Year Awards represent some of the most accomplished and influential leaders across the IT channel,” said Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. Content and Executive Editor at CRN, The Channel Company. “Their accomplishments reflect the talent, determination, and forward-thinking approach that continue to strengthen our industry. We are honored to recognize their achievements and celebrate the meaningful impact they are making throughout the industry.”

“I’m honored to be named a finalist for this award alongside so many other incredible CEOs in our industry. This kind of recognition means the most because it reflects the work of the whole team at Plugable,” said Lynn Smurthwaite-Murphy, CEO of Plugable Technologies. “I’m proud of how deliberately we’ve grown our support for MSPs and distribution partners without losing sight of the customer experience we’re known for. That balance of scaling the business while staying close to the people who use our products every day is what I care most about getting right, and it’s a credit to a team that shows up for our partners and customers in ways that go beyond the transaction.”

The Women of the Year Awards Finalists can be viewed online at www.crn.com/women-of-the-year.

About Plugable Technologies

U.S.-founded and owned, Plugable is a leading provider of docking, connectivity, and AI-enablement solutions for the modern workplace. Trusted by more than 200,000 organizations worldwide, including 90% of the Fortune 50, Plugable combines business-grade products with deep technical expertise, industry-leading compatibility, and North America-based Technical support. From universal docking and desktop productivity to emerging local AI solutions, Plugable is focused on making complex technology easier to deploy, manage, and use across mixed-device environments. To learn more, visit plugable.com.

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Plugable Contact:
Katie Eckstrom
Plugable
press@plugable.com

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world's top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers, and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.

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The Channel Company Contact:
Jessica Beaudet
The Channel Company
jbeaudet@thechannelcompany.com

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