Microsoft names Rodrigo Kede Lima as Asia president after Ahmed Mazhari steps down

Rodrigo Kede Lima, President, Microsoft Asia

Microsoft on September 5 announced the appointment of Rodrigo Kede Lima as the new President for Microsoft Asia, with immediate effect. He will succeed Ahmed Mazhari, who had been in the role for five years.

The two will work together to ensure a seamless transition till September 30, 2024, the company said in a statement.

“Stepping down was a difficult decision, but it gives me the opportunity to focus on what is important – my family and me – and the next exciting phase of my journey!,” said Mazhari in a post on LinkedIn.

In his new role, Rodrigo will lead a business including 20 countries and a diverse team of 30,000 employees dedicated to “unlocking Asia’s innovation advantage and fostering opportunities for sustainable economic resilience and prosperity.”

He will report to Judson Althoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Microsoft Corporation.

Althoff said, “I am thrilled to welcome Rodrigo Kede Lima as the new President for Microsoft Asia. Rodrigo’s extensive experience and proven leadership in driving digital transformation make him the perfect fit for this role. His commitment to empowering our people, customers and partners will be invaluable as we lead AI Transformation in the region and make a significant impact on the communities we serve.”

He added, “I would also like to thank Ahmed Mazhari for his key contributions in building Microsoft’s reputation as a trusted partner in Asia.”

Rodrigo joined Microsoft in 2020, and has held various leadership roles, including President for Microsoft Americas Enterprise, where he oversaw all Enterprise accounts across Canada, Latin America, and three US Geographic Operating Units. Under his leadership as President for Microsoft Latin America, he spearheaded growth and innovation by empowering customers and communities across 30 offices in 22 markets.

Prior to Microsoft, Rodrigo had held national and international roles at IBM, including President of IBM Brazil and President for Latin America. He has a strong background in corporate finance and has led significant initiatives in the technology sector.

“I am truly honored and excited to take on the role of President for Microsoft Asia. This region is at the forefront of digital transformation and now has the opportunity to lead the world in the era of AI,” said Kede Lima.

AI opportunity for the Asia team

In his LinkedIn post, Mazhari highlighted how his team was able to make “significant strides, especially in AI, and have played a pivotal role in shaping the tech landscape in the region.”

“Seeing our collective efforts come to fruition and create meaningful societal and economic impact has been profoundly rewarding,” he said.

In January 2024, speaking to Moneycontrol, Mazhari had said, “This seminal moment of AI creates this immense opportunity for tech companies in India to be the ‘enablement engine’ of not only domestic companies in the country, but think about the work being done by the likes of Infosys, Cognizant, Wipro, TCS, or even Tech Mahindra in our space.”