Microsoft SA's top leadership is being shuffled from today, as a year-long strategy that sees MD Mteto Nyati move into a strategic emerging market position clicks into place.
Nyati, who has been at the helm of the software giant's local operation since September 2008, has been promoted to GM of emerging regions within the Middle East and Africa (MEA), as Microsoft seeks to tap into regional growth potential. His role is being taken over by Zoaib Hoosen, who has been the company's local COO since 2013.
Microsoft SA's outgoing MD will work with the leadership teams across MEA to develop and implement growth strategies for the emerging markets within the MEA region, says Microsoft.
This strategic shuffle is among the many radical transformations at Microsoft since Satya Nadella became its CEO in February, as it moves to take advantage of mobility and the shift to cloud computing in a new era.
Notes Hoosen: "As Microsoft, our strategy is clear: a cloud for everyone on every device. My role is to make this a reality for South Africa, but I am well aware there are a number of challenges we need to overcome to make this a reality for every South African."
Perfect position
Nyati says Hoosen is a "natural fit" as MD of the local operation, noting he has been managing a large portion of the Microsoft SA business since his appointment a year ago.
Before joining Microsoft, Hoosen spent nearly 21 years at IBM, where he started as an IT graduate in 1989 and rose through the ranks to hold several leadership positions. In his final assignment at IBM, he headed up the company's Middle East and Africa Public Sector Business.
Hoosen joined Microsoft SA in 2010 as Enterprise and Partner Group director, before being promoted by Nyati to COO last year. He has BSc and MBA degrees from the University of Durban-Westville and Open University in the UK respectively.
Microsoft SA has identified three focus areas that will form the foundation for its local business: partnering to solve problems around youth empowerment, enterprise development, safety and security; building a more capable state; and rural development and access.
Hoosen explains the advent of cloud computing is driving a need for new skills, which is where its Student2Business initiative fits in, while its recent TV white spaces trial is a bid to provide affordable broadband. He adds the company is looking at bringing affordable devices and services to SA.
"Everything is becoming digitised and we are seeing an abundance of devices in different form factors emerging - these devices are all connected. In the next five to 10 years, the world is not going to be defined by the form factors we know and love today, but by those that will come to be," says Hoosen.
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