Leadership Team

Christian Primeau is the Global CEO of Syntax and has led the company since 2018, transforming it into the top provider of technology solutions and professional advisory and managed services for clients worldwide.

Under his leadership, Syntax has expanded to over 2,800 employees and ventured into ten new markets, emphasizing its commitment to excellence in ERP, Cloud, and Security services. Christian has significantly enhanced partnerships with leading technology providers and has skillfully guided Syntax through four strategic acquisitions, strengthening its presence in key sectors.

Christian has a track record spanning more than 30 years in technology and senior executive roles at at Dialogic, iWeb, Bell Canada and Sun Microsystems, Christian has a track record of driving growth and operational excellence. Before joining Syntax, he notably contributed to substantial revenue and EBITDA growth at iWeb, leading to successful company sales and expansions.

Christian, a McGill University alumnus, holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and an MBA, highlighting his deep expertise in technology management and strategic business development.

Kevin Dattolico, Syntax’s Regional CEO for SAP Technical Managed Services and Oracle Business Units, joined in 2020 as Chief Revenue Officer of Syntax Americas, later becoming CEO in 2022. With over 20 years in IT infrastructure sales, he excels in cloud solutions for enterprise and web scale clients, driving large and complex sales transactions. Formerly, Kevin served in leadership roles at Novell, VMWare, and Virtustream, driving global growth strategies and market leadership in cloud services and software solutions. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Hofstra University. Since joining Syntax in 2020 as Chief Revenue Officer for the Americas, Kevin has demonstrated visionary leadership, facilitating large and intricate sales transactions through his blend of technical expertise and commercial acumen.

Luc Dubois, Syntax’s Regional CEO for the SAP Business Unit since October 2023, oversees sales, partnerships, marketing, business development, and operations. With over 23 years of IT and business optimization experience, he excels in warehouse, operations, and inventory management. Luc led Beyond Technologies, acquired by Syntax, to over 400 employees and ranking on Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies list. Formerly with Deloitte Inc., he’s been a pivotal figure in Canadian manufacturing and distribution. Holding a Professional Engineer’s degree from Polytechnique Montréal and an MBA from HEC Montréal, Luc is adept at leading teams to deliver integrated solutions for multinational and mid-market businesses

Michael Etinson, founder and principal of Syntax, began his career at McGill University and established Syntax in 1972. After a brief tenure at IBM, he rebooted Syntax, leading it to significant growth and success with its own ERP software and as a partner with JD Edwards. As the tech landscape changed in 2007, Syntax began providing hosting and managed services leveraging its ERP skills. In partnership with Novacap in 2016 and following six successful acquisitions, Syntax now boasts over 2,600 employees worldwide. Michael’s role is instrumental in integrating these businesses, ensuring customer satisfaction, providing contractual guidance, and participating on the Syntax board. He also chairs the board of Medicom, a leading PPE manufacturer and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from McGill University. A dedicated community member and family man, Michael is married with five children and nine grandchildren.

Mike Evans is the President and COO of Syntax’s Technical Managed Services Business Unit. He joined Syntax in 2020 as its Global Chief Operating Officer. With a strong focus on delivering customer value, Mike is responsible for worldwide operations, ensuring seamless execution and enhancing customer experiences.

Mike brings extensive experience from his previous roles at Virtustream, Dell EMC, and IBM. Before joining Syntax, he served as Senior Vice President of Global Operations at Virtustream, overseeing the delivery and support of all cloud offerings as well as the management of key customer engagements and relationships.

At Dell EMC, he held several senior leadership roles, including Senior Vice President of Global Specialty Presales, Vice President of Backup and Recovery Systems, and Global Director of Services. Mike has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to driving customer-centric initiatives and fostering operational excellence throughout his career.

He is a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Larry Perlov, as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the SAP Business Unit at Syntax, brings over 17 years of experience to his role. Beginning his journey with Illumiti in 2007, now a Syntax company, he held various positions including co-founder, President, Managing Partner, and eventually CEO in 2021.

Larry has a proven track record in steering global SAP initiatives, expanding clientele, and fostering innovation. Prior to Syntax, he held leadership roles at IMG Americas, Intuit, and Dell-EMC. His educational background includes an Executive MBA (OPM50) from Harvard Business School, an MBA in Finance from Heriot-Watt University, and degrees in Artificial Intelligence and Electrical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Bindu Crandall is Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Syntax with responsibility for defining and driving the company’s global marketing strategy. She brings to the role more than 20 years of marketing leadership at enterprise technology companies, with a proven track record building successful go-to-market relationships with strategic partners including SAP, Oracle, AWS, and Microsoft. Previously, Bindu served as CMO for digital transformation services provider Navisite, which was acquired by Accenture in 2024. Earlier in her career, she held marketing leadership positions at companies including Optima Healthcare Solutions, Internap, McKesson, and Cisco. Bindu has been recognized nationally for building award-winning brands and campaigns and holds a bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Björn Bartheidel has been the Regional CEO of Syntax Europe since January 2025, where he is responsible for the Go-to-Market strategies and business execution.

In his previous role as Vice President of Intelligent Industry Services at Syntax, Björn led the SAP consulting business and Application Managed Services (AMS) in Europe, supporting clients in their digital transformation efforts.

Since joining the company in 2013, Björn has pushed the boundaries of Digital Manufacturing, Advanced Analytics, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). He played a key role in transforming Syntax’s Adicom Software Suite into a SAP-based Digital Manufacturing Portfolio, and today, he is a leading SAP consulting and implementation partner in Europe.

Before joining Syntax, Björn worked as a Principal Consultant at Dell Services, implementing SAP solutions in the manufacturing industry. He also gained valuable experience at Siemens as a Business Consultant, focusing on business transformation and processes for manufacturing industry clients, as well as an IT Consultant and Solution Architect, delivering integrated Shop-Floor-to-Top-Floor solutions.

In addition to his expertise in Design Thinking, Business Process Management, and Agile Project Management, Björn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems from the University of Applied Sciences Ingolstadt.

Marcelo Tamassia, Syntax’s Global Chief Technology Officer since 2019, drives the company’s technology and innovation strategies. Co-founder of EmeraldCube Solutions, acquired by Syntax, he led their AWS cloud practice and software R&D, enhancing their position in the Oracle JD Edwards ecosystem. Prior, he managed ERP projects globally and led a technical consulting organization. With over two decades in technology, Marcelo emphasizes empowering individuals to provide exceptional solutions. He holds advanced certifications from AWS, Oracle, and Microsoft, along with an MBA from the University of Florida and postgraduate education from Stanford University, underscoring his commitment to continuous learning and excellence.

Anil Arora, Global Chief Financial Officer, oversees Syntax’s global finance and operations, ensuring financial strategies are optimized to support the company’s long-term vision, drive profitability, and enable sustainable international growth and innovation. Anil brings more than 25 years of financial and operational leadership, with a focus on executing growth initiatives, operational efficiencies, capital structure optimization, and business transformation across both public and private companies. Over the past eight years, he held CFO roles at private equity-backed firms and managed teams globally. Earlier in his career, he held finance leadership roles at IBM, including vice president of finance for IBM Business Services, a multi-billion-dollar division specializing in consulting services, enterprise applications and managed services.

Anil has also served as a strategic advisor to startups and high-growth ventures, helping shape financial models and growth strategies tailored for scale and resilience. He holds an MBA from Emory University, a Master of Science degree from the University of Georgia, and a Bachelor of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology.

Dessalen Wood, CHRP, as Global Chief People Officer at Syntax, leads company-wide human resource strategies, fostering a vibrant culture for over 2,800 employees. With over 25 years of experience, she guides People and Culture teams, drawing from roles at renowned Canadian and US enterprises like Reitmans Canada, Hudson’s Bay Company, and The Disney Stores. Before Syntax, Wood served as Chief People Officer at ThoughtExchange and Vice President of Talent Development at Cineplex Entertainment. She holds a CHRP designation and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from McGill University. Recognized with multiple awards, including the Waterstone Top 10 Most Admired Corporate Culture, Wood is esteemed as a “Rockstar Leader” by the ISG Women in Digital Awards.