Microsoft has appointed Rodrigo Kede Lima as its new President for Asia, succeeding Ahmed Mazhari, who held the role for five years. The two leaders will work closely to ensure a smooth transition through September 30, 2024.

Rodrigo will now lead Microsoft’s business across 20 countries, managing a diverse workforce of 30,000 employees. His focus will be on driving digital transformation and fostering innovation across the region, with an emphasis on AI advancements. Rodrigo will report to Judson Althoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Microsoft Corporation.

“Rodrigo’s expertise in digital transformation and leadership makes him an excellent choice for this role. His focus on empowering our teams and partners will be pivotal as we continue to lead AI transformation in the region,” said Althoff, while also acknowledging Mazhari’s contributions to Microsoft’s strong standing in Asia.

Rodrigo joined Microsoft in 2020 and has held leadership roles across the Americas and Latin America, where he significantly expanded Microsoft’s enterprise reach. Prior to Microsoft, he held key positions at IBM, including President of IBM Brazil and Latin America.

Rodrigo expressed his commitment to leveraging AI and digital innovation to unlock growth across Asia, saying, "This region is poised to lead the world in the AI era, and I’m excited to work with our teams to drive inclusive growth."

Rodrigo, who has relocated to Singapore, holds an engineering degree and an MBA and has a long-standing history in corporate finance and technology leadership.