Microsoft on Tuesday announced the appointment of Lillian Barnard as President for Microsoft Africa. Bernard was previously the tech giant’s Managing Director for South Africa, a position that will now be held by Kalane Rampai.
Microsot says the new appointments are an important milestone in Microsoft’s ongoing effort to drive impact in Africa at scale.
Barnard is well placed to head Microsoft’s involvement in the continent’s broadscale transformation and will draw on her more than 25 years of experience in the ICT industry.
She has held leadership positions in South Africa and abroad at companies such as IBM and Vodacom before her appointment as Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa in 2019.
“As African organisations of all sizes, and across every sector, pivot and adapt to changing business and customer needs, they are looking for partners that can accelerate their agility, flexibility and competitiveness, while also cutting costs and driving efficiencies. I am deeply passionate about unlocking the potential for growth using technology to deliver real impact for businesses, communities and economies across the continent,” says Barnard.
Commenting on the appointment of Barnard and Rampai Samer Abu-Ltaif, Microsoft Corporate VP & President Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, said Microsoft is fully committed to Africa’s digital future, creating opportunities, empowering individuals and businesses, and driving job growth that will benefit the entire region. ‘’For decades, we have worked tirelessly with governments and organisations across the continent to unlock opportunities for growth and innovation, and the appointments of Lillian and Kalane represent a significant milestone in this journey. Both Lillian’s and Kalane’s deep expertise in the ICT industry and proven success in delivering transformative solutions make them the ideal candidates to help us achieve our mission of creating a more connected, innovative, and prosperous Africa. With Lillian and Kalane at the helm of our regional and local operations, respectively, we are confident that Microsoft will continue to play a pivotal role in Africa’s economic growth and success.”
Rampai on the other hand has more than 20 years’ experience in Management Consulting, with extensive industry experience and a proven track record in helping customers transform their businesses, creating sustainable change and stimulating innovation to create a competitive advantage.
“It’s an exciting time to step into this role, and I look forward to advancing the competitiveness of customers and businesses of all sizes and across industries in South Africa and the broader continent, enabling them to benefit from our strong partner ecosystem and best practices in ongoing digital transformation,” says Rampai.
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