Microsoft appoints new President for Europe, Middle East and Africa

Microsoft-appoints-Samer-Abu-Ltaif-as-President-for-Europe,-Middle-East-and-Africa

Share this content

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Microsoft has announced the appointment of Samer Abu-Ltaif as the President of Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Abu-Ltaif succeeds Ralph Haupter, who will assume the role of President of the newly formed Microsoft Small, Medium Enterprises and Channel Partner organisation.

His new role

Abu-Ltaif will leverage his extensive experience in driving digital transformation and fostering collaboration to strengthen Microsoft’s presence in the EMEA region.

His role will be to empower customers and partners to harness the transformative potential of AI, enabling them to achieve more and help drive innovation and sustained economic growth across the region.

Abu-Ltaif brings a wealth of expertise and recently served as President for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMA).

Under his leadership, Microsoft deepened partnerships with strategic service providers, expanded its regional footprint and delivered enhanced value to customers and partners across three continents.

Samer Abu-Ltaif

  • During his two-decade tenure at Microsoft, Abu-Ltaif has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have solidified Microsoft as a key partner in advancing regional priorities
  • This includes achievements like the launch of Microsoft’s datacentres in South Africa, UAE, Qatar and Poland
  • Another achievement is the Global Engineering Development Center in the UAE and planned datacentre regions in Greece, Saudi Arabia and an upcoming datacentre in Kenya
  • He played a pivotal role in the opening of Microsoft Africa Development Center in Kenya and the company’s $1.5 billion investment in Abu Dhabi’s G42, aimed at accelerating AI innovation globally

Advocacy

Abu-Ltaif has also been a key advocate for workforce development through skills training programs that have empowered millions of people across the region by equipping current and future generations with the tools and opportunities needed to thrive in the digital age, such as:

  • Tomoh
  • AthkaU
  • TechDev
  • Africa Development Bank partnership
  • Digital Heartbeat
  • Tawar w Ghayar

Based in UAE, Abu-Ltaif has held several senior leadership roles at Microsoft, including President for the Middle East and Africa, and Regional Director for the Gulf region.

Abu-Ltaif holds an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability and a degree in Computer Science Studies from the American University of Beirut.

Newsletter
Receive the latest breaking news straight to your inbox