Microsoft appoints new president for MEA region

Microsoft has appointed Samer Abu Ltaif as the president of its Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.Abu Ltaif, who joined Microsoft in 2004, has held many senior roles within the organisation including regional director for enterprise and partner group across MEA. Most recently, he was the regional general manager of Microsoft Gulf. During his tenure, he led landmark Microsoft initiatives aimed at empowering governments and citizens through innovation, revolutionizing education, stimulating SME growth and entrepreneurship.Abu Ltaif played a key role in growing Microsoft’s presence in the Gulf and developing the company’s ecosystem of over 1,400 channel partners. His vision for Microsoft in MEA is to contribute to the economic and social development of the region. “The rich diversity across the region, combined with the fast-growing youth population and innovative spirit, opens up enormous opportunity,” he said.A key part of Abu Ltaif’s role will be to drive the digital transformation agenda of the region across governments, enterprises, developers and small and medium businesses. Abu Ltaif will continue to be based in Dubai, which serves as one of the major hubs for Microsoft in the region.He takes over the reins from Microsoft corporate vice-president, Ali Faramawy, who has headed the region for thirteen years. Faramawy, in turn, takes on a newly announced global role as the head of the Emerging Markets Digital Transformation Organisation which has been established within Microsoft.