Microsoft appoints new vice president for Asia-Pacific region

In his new role, Cernuda will lead Microsoft’s business in Asia-Pacific, which includes 17 offices in 12 countries, over 2,000 employees and 28,000 valued partners.

He will be responsible for leading the company’s commercial and consumer product, services and support offerings, as APAC continues its aggressive consumption of cloud, mobile, big data and social technologies.

Key to unlocking this opportunity will be continuing – and accelerating - Microsoft’s current transformation from a primarily on-premise software business to a devices-and-services company, offering compelling and integrated experiences across PCs, Tablets, Mobile Devices and TV. These experiences will be delivered via Microsoft’s unparalleled network of 28,000 dedicated partners.

Commenting on Cernuda’s new appointment, Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International said: “Cernuda offers a great blend of proven leadership qualities, extensive experience in the key APAC growth areas of emerging markets and small/medium business, and a genuine passion – for our customers, our partners, our employees and for the positive and lasting impact we make in our local communities.”

“I am delighted and humbled to be offered the opportunity to lead Microsoft’s business in one of the fastest and most important growth regions in the world, one that offers both incredible opportunity, a unique set of challenges and great diversity,” said Cernuda.

A Microsoft veteran of some 16 years, Cernuda was most recently vice president of Sales, Marketing and Services for Microsoft’s Latin American operations, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Prior to that role, Cernuda served in a number of senior-level Microsoft roles, including Worldwide vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) sales and field operations, vice president of MBS International and director of Small & Medium Business Solutions and Partner Group for Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) organisation.